A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, October 2, 2022 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10 In 2020 Pope Francis wrote the encyclical letter, Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship . I believe it is one of his most powerful and urgent addresses to all people worldwide, not just Catholics. He titles his first chapter “Dark Clouds Over A Closed World.” He begins, “Without claiming to carry out an exhaustive analysis or to study every aspect of our present-day experience, I intend simply to consider certain trends in our world that hinder the development of universal fraternity.” His first chapter elaborates on the hurts and evils today. When I examine and pray over today’s readings, I envision our world problems converted to the hurts and sufferings in Old and New Testament days. Every place I go, voice I hear, and article I read online or in print tells me Father, how terrible the world is that we live in. When will it all stop? When will God intervene and restore His plan for...

For Sunday, September 25, 2022 Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31 We walk into church and immediately put our fingers in the holy water font and sign ourselves with the Sign of the Cross saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” We do this so often that we seldom focus on its meaning. We are reciting our belief in God as the Trinity of Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is also a reminder of our entrance into being a Christian — Baptism — our profession of faith in Christ and the Catholic Church. It’s also an acknowledgment of our desire to continue to live God’s life by following His all-encompassing love commandments. I am saying YES, I believe. Help where my belief is weak, shaky, hiding or not programmed. This is our faith. This is our belief. Is this what we believe? Are we living it? Each week we are giving God an hour on weekends and then going back home to our lives. Are we going back without taking God with us? In his...

For Sunday, September 18, 2022 Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13 Today’s readings ask us to examine ourselves while looking at the people who have influenced our lives. What qualities stand out that are of major importance in our living each day as followers of Jesus and as His disciples to those in need? Wikipedia cites the following qualities as being upmost: Humor, honesty, empathy, loyalty, trust, respect, relationship intimacy, affection, independence, kindness, maturity, integrity, openness, curiosity, commitment, health emotional intelligence, trustworthiness, faithfulness, forgiveness, open-mindedness, similarity, reliability, and friendship. The ones I admire and look for are: Respecting others Realizing I'm not the most important person in my world Being able to listen and respond with kindness, empathy and compassion Being willing to help and care for those in need Possessing a love that encompasses the love Jesus exemplified. Today’s readings direct our attentio...

For Sunday, September 11, 2022 Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 Today we are studying one of Jesus’ best-known parables, the Prodigal Son/Father/Brother, which has impacted millions and millions of people down through the ages. One of history's best-known paintings is “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” completed by Rembrandt two years before his death in 1669 and now located at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Fr. Henri Nouwen wrote a deeply contemplative book and spiritual masterpiece by the same title. It's necessary reading for all who wish to deepen their love and devotion to the Lord. There is a common theme in today’s readings which is best described as a reluctance — a deep-seated reluctance — to never give up on people. The basis for this reluctance is that when we love someone deeply, there is an intense desire to never give up on them. After living with them, loving them, trying to “reform” them, we are urged to say, “I’ve had enough....

For Sunday, September 4, 2022 Wisdom 9:13-28; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33 Jesus has always asked difficult tasks of every person who chooses to be His follower. Even for those who are cradle Catholics, continuing to be followers of Jesus is not easy. Today He tells us all that “… one must hate parents, spouse, siblings, even [their] own life. ... Must carry your own crosses, all of them all the time.” [Luke 14:26-27] What is He telling us? Is He serious? What is happening that makes Jesus seem so negative and unloving? The synoptic writers -- Matthew, Mark and Luke -- tell us that Jesus only journeys to Jerusalem ONCE to emphasize that everything in His life points to His upcoming, horrendous agony, death and rising. These events are the purpose of His life and of eternal life for each of us. Jesus knows that He can expect nothing but betrayal, even from His loyalists; condemnation from all the religious and civil authorities; humiliation beyond comprehension; and torture ... a...