A message from Father Pete

Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35 How important am I? How important do I feel right now? How important are you? How important do you feel right now? We have responded to this in many ways over the years. It really is a personal question and one we do not like to dwell on or think about. I’m sure we’ve asked ourselves this at one time or another. and our response varies according to how we feel or what is happening in our lives. I’m sure there are a few who are sure that they are the most valuable person in the world. Most of us are not of that mind-set; in fact, many have a negative view of themselves especially when things are difficult or not going well in their lives. This has to be the situation for those waiting in line to get tested for COVID-19 and those unsure if they have caught this virus. Are my days on Earth numbered? How can this disease strike so fast, and could my time be coming to an end? Will I be with God? I certainly have been a sinner ... maybe I have...

Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31       Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday and hear in the Gospel about Thomas, who has been given a bad rap; we also delve deeper into the understanding of faith. Each of the readings has a element of "show me," a wonderful teaching tool that is necessary for us to comprehend that our faith is based on the person of Jesus. What did Jesus show consistently? His love, His compassion, His forgiveness, His mercy and His presence to each person, leading to an understanding of God’s total, unconditional love. How often do I take time just to sit with this loving God? How often do I express my gratitude for all the people God has sent to teach me that I am important and loved? How often have I reflected that the people I have touched with caring and love have received a portion of God’s love in turn, and God is so grateful for my sharing and wants to thank me? Why not? Don’t we thank people who touch us? Don’t we teach our ...

Acts 10:34, 37-43; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 “And he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that He had to rise from the dead.” It’s Easter: Let us rejoice and be glad! Are we? I have looked forward to Easter all of Lent. I never imagined that the world would be overcome by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lent I planned wasn’t. The Lent that is is hard to get my arms around: Private masses only, being sequestered along with so many, not being able to go to Langley AFB . When will the main onslaught hit? How many loved ones will suffer this dreaded virus? How many will have completed their journey to the Lord? What is the message? Is there joy in the Easter message? Can I find this seemingly lost God? Even in its most troubled years, nearly everybody in the Soviet Union knew the date of Easter, even though it was forbidden to make a slightest allusion to it in the public media. Is there a disproportionate emphasis on Good Friday and Jesus’ horrible death...

Today we celebrate the most glorious feast for all Christians, Easter. Matthew sets the scene: After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for He has been raised just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him.’ Behold, I have told you.” What struck you most about this passage? I am so impressed with the solemnity. Everything is definitive: God’s plan from forever has arri...

Jesus has died! There is an unforgettable display of His death in the synoptics: Luke tells us, “It was about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.” (Luke 23: 44-45) Mark tells us, “At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon … Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:33, 37-38) Matthew tells us, “From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?’ … And behold the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after His r...

And Judas returns ... Matthew says: “… Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people.” (Matthew 26:47) Mark says: “… Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes and the elders.” (Mark 14:43) Luke says: “… a crowd approached and in the front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas.” (Luke 22:47) John says: “So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.” (John 18:2-3) It’s interesting that of all of the accounts, only John gives an indication that ‘soldiers’ are involved. Crowds get quickly out of hand … soldiers seem to maintain some discipline as well as fear. This encounter with the authorities was not unusual. Jesus was persecuted everywhere, especially by the Pharisees, sent from Jerusalem. They “kept an ...

Our Passion starts with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Apostles and people proclaiming: “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:10) “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10) “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38) “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, (even) the king of Israel.” (John 12:13) All are thinking about these words and have their own interpretation, many the same. Jesus is the Messiah. He will free us from horrible Rome and from the strict interpretation of the Law by the insensitive Pharisees. As they go into Jerusalem, each day is filled with Jesus teaching the crowds. What is occupying their minds? Passover. Passover is one of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely observ...

We have arrived at the holiest of weeks, the week of Jesus’ Passion and death. We have been this route many times. We have read the different passion accounts and know exactly what happened. This is what spiritual reading is: reading the text. It’s like taking a class from someone who wrote the book and I’m a student, but for us, the book is about Jesus’ last days. We’ve read these accounts which conjured up all sorts of emotions. We have spent time reflecting and meditating to better understand Christ and what it means to follow Him. We’ve learned and been convinced of God’s total love. Now meditation is primarily a matter of the heart more than the intellect. I’m right there at the scene, bringing all my emotions and feelings. It’s much more akin to taking a leisurely walk with Christ, your friend. Can we do just that this week? Matthew is our guide today. He starts out Passion week with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, found in the 21st chapter. Much more happens that week in Matthew: J...

Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66 Marking the beginning of Passion Week, Palm Sunday is unlike any other that we have celebrated in the past,  considering the pandemic coronavirus we are experiencing. My prayers and private masses are remembering all of you reading these words. For so many of us we are heeding the demands and serious suggestions to maintain a social distance ... to do as much work at home as we can … to stay in. It is so difficult to do but absolutely necessary for us social human beings. So what is the message from the Lord for us today as we begin this most sacred of weeks? PRAY. Prayer is my conversation with God. It is the most basic platform that I can use to develop an ever deeper relationship with the Lord. What does it involve? Listening … learning ... loving. Then, so importantly: Action. Practically this means that since every single person is created in love by God — all are my sisters and brothers — we are all part of the same...