A message from Father Pete

Deuteronomy 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28 Does God speak to me today? Certainly! I once asked my high school students this question and one came up after class with an unusual request: Let me think about this and could I write an essay about this next week instead of one on my favorite saint? I agreed, anxiously waiting to hear his thoughts. He started out: “The most obvious people I hear God’s voice is from my parents: they are good people, hard working, always kind but firm. Then I think of my grandparents … two of them are already with the Lord, the other two are just plain great: their love for me is so special, it shows me I am important to them, I can see Jesus’ attention, humor and love all over them. Then the priests and nuns at the parish, they are all nice and I can see prayer and God all over them too. Their actions and greetings are not rushed, they like what they are doing and know it is important. Then I can see God in my friends. They don’t know I’m inclu...

Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20 Why do I say I’m sorry? I would say because I felt I was wrong in what I said or did. If I didn’t do this or refused to do this, then I would not be honest to myself or I don’t care about hurting another. Is it necessary to admit my “wrongdoing?” Yes, because it is necessary to be aware that I’m not perfect and I have failed to love another. If I don’t, I’m not making any effort to teach another the value and necessity of living a caring and giving life. Often I feel myself drawn into the routine of caring just for me: what I want and what I expect. When I fall into this pattern I’m placing myself on a pedestal that life is all about me and not those God places in my life. I’m living a life where I am the most important person. Other people and their needs are not my concern. As long as I’m “numero uno,” that’s what life is all about. The readings address the fact that I am not the center of the world. I am called to be my brother a...

1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15. 17-20; John  1:35-42 Do I dream? Yes! Do I remember my dreams? Seldom!  Has God spoken to me in my dreams? Absolutely! This has been a gradual awareness for me. I have been pondering what to do … what to say … how to approach a difficulty I’m having in a relationship. So often, an approach comes to me in my dream ... it kinda says … why don’t you try … this will work … try it … I bring this to the person and it works. Is this God acting in and through me? I absolutely believe that. So does God talk to me? Yes!  Does God talk to everyone? Yes! God loves each and every one of us at every moment of our lives. God loves since that is what God is all about. I believe God loves us especially when we do not love ourselves. Why? Because if we know we are loved then we will be able to love more deeply and completely. When I have these ‘dreams’ and God suggests a course of action … and I try it … and it succeeds, I am a happier individua...

Isaiah 55:1-11; 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11 People who accepted the Apostles’ teachings in the early Church were baptized into the Church. For the most part these people were believers in the Jewish faith who recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. As the number became larger and larger, the church became larger.  Jesus welcomed all. The apostles grappled with the “how” to allow Gentiles into the Church since they were unfamiliar with the Jewish traditions and teachings. They established a “preparation period of study,” the precursor of the RCIA program today. In 380 A.D., Theodosius established Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire. Its development established rules and customs along with myths that have confused many. I remember hearing people saying, “I just hope I can sneak in the back door of heaven before I’m recognized.” This conjures up a whole realm of fear and negativity that never came from Jesus. Some of these thoughts are: Does God really love me? Doe...

Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 What are my gifts? What are my talents? Talents are defined as “natural aptitude or skills.” A gift is defined as “a thing given willingly to someone without payment, a present.” These are very precise descriptions and very necessary for reflecting on this feast of the Epiphany when unknown and unexpected astrologers (magi) from the East come to acknowledge the birth of Jesus, the highly expected and predicted Messiah and Son of God. They bring strange yet significant gifts. The start of this New Year is a fitting day to look at my own talents which have been developed from my natural ability and skill set. As I review these I notice the persistence, courage, strength, desire and affirmations present that have resulted from God’s care and my developing relationship with Him to become the best I can be. What gifts does God give? The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the gifts of the Holy Spirit, first recorded in Isaiah 11:1-...