A message from Father Pete

Isaiah  63:16-17, 19; Isaiah 64:2-7; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 Thanksgiving has departed. It was different this year. Some of us were with family and we were thankful. We are praying that the many who traveled are spared the ravages of Covid-19. Now we are beginning our preparation for Christmas: wondering, planning what we will be doing and how we will celebrate another difficult yet special season of love. What should our Advent calendar contain? What could be our direction as we continue to explore the depths of God’s love for each of us this Advent season? Pope Benedict XVI gives us definite ideas: “The essential meaning of the word adventus was: God is here, He has not withdrawn from the world, He has not deserted us. Even if we cannot see and touch Him as we can tangible realities, He is here and comes to visit us in many ways.” Am I aware that He is with me? Do I feel a pull to give God more attention during this busy season? Do I take time to see the splendor in t...

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46 St. Augustine said, “I beg you, join with me in love. Run with me in faith. Let us yearn for our heavenly home. Let us sigh for it. Let us realize that we are strangers here below.” We know our true home is heaven. We know this and we hope and pray that we “will be granted entrance when the time comes.” This is a distraction that Satan puts into our minds. Jesus has guaranteed that we will be in heaven if we have faith and follow the commandments and His triple command of love. How are we doing with this? Do we ask the Lord for help living our daily lives? Do we give up on ourselves? Fact: We are tempted and we sin, and we will continue to be weak and sin until we die. But what about that same old sin I keep committing? I do try, but I keep on slipping when I’m weak and unable to resist. I seem to condemn myself. Does God condemn me? Is there a checklist I can use on my journey to heaven? Today’s readings help us ...

Proverbs 13:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30 Down through the years I have often thought what direction the Lord has planned for me. In my reflections I have discovered, not as quickly as I would have liked, that the Lord has given me an abundance of gifts and talents with the intention that I discover what I am good at, and what brings me satisfaction and completeness. In the process of bringing them to fruition I realize that God has needed me to help people who cross my path. This caring, giving and helping lets them know they also have been gifted and need to share their own gifts. God needs people to love. How better is it to let them know they are loved and special to God. If I don’t do my part, a whole bunch of people have been left out in the cold. Today’s readings bring this into focus. Proverbs begins by honoring a wise woman and fittingly concludes by describing an ideal wife  symbolically as Wisdom. The Scriptures speak continually of wisdom...

Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 I heard a great story from Pope Francis’ audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 9, 2014, that helps to understand Jesus’ parable about being ready for God’s kingdom. He was presenting a series of teachings on the Holy Spirit and the gift of wisdom. His prepared text in front of him, he stopped, looked at the crowd and, as teachers often do, threw out a question: “Imagine a mother running around after her children all day, attending to their every need. Eventually the mother gets tired, loses her patience, and starts scolding her child. Is that wisdom?” The crowd was stunned. Was that a direct question to them? Why would he ask their opinion? What was he getting at? Even so, what answer did he want? As expected, no one answered. The Pope again posed the question: “… scolding children — I ask you — is that wisdom? What do you say: Is this wisdom or not?” Ask yourself the question. How would you respond? Still no one responded, s...