A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, October 1, 2023 Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32 “Walk the Walk ... Talk the Talk.” Do you know how old this is? Where it's from? Actually it’s an idiom, but it's also a 2011 album from the blues rock band The Head Cat following their first album, Fool's Paradise. Their stage act was theatrical, including pirate costumes, echoing rock ’n’ roll contemporaries Screaming Lord Surtch & the Savages, Nero and the Gladiators and others. Talk the talk ... walk the walk. If you say that someone talks the talk but does not walk the walk, you mean that they do not act in a way that agrees with the things they say. So where are we? To put this in perspective: We are all on a continuous conversion journey. Our life as a disciple of Jesus is one ultimately in which consistency is key. What we say must be matched in the deeds of our daily living. Remember the rules — certainly much more than suggestions — that our parents left for us teenagers whe...

For Sunday, September 24, 2023 Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16 What is our vision of God?  Mine has been formed over the years through scriptures, reading, studying, sharing in prayer groups, teaching, and so very often in people sharing their faith stories and their relationships with God. Then the question becomes: What is my relationship with God, right now? I can say I feel close to God. A more accurate question is, am I aware of God’s presence as I journey through my life? Is the relationship firm … steady … iffy … confused … not knowing where God is? All of the above at different times, and I am not in control of what knocks me off kilter. Life happening when I have other plans is a given. In our memory banks, grade school recess and high school gym can be times of dread, especially when we’re standing on the sidelines waiting to be chosen for whatever team or event is forming. Being chosen brings a feeling of specialness and importance. Not being sel...

For Sunday, September 17, 2023 Sirach 27:30-28:7, Romans 14:7-9, Matthew 18:21-35 The readings today tell me to look at myself and the people who move in and out of my daily life. They indirectly ask if I am a caring, loving, and forgiving person. Automatically I respond in the affirmative for the first two and hopefully yes for the third. The readings ask me directly to look at the people who move in and out of my life through God’s eyes and how God has responded to me so far in all of my life. Has God cared, loved and forgiven me? YES, all the time. Has God helped me grow deeper in His image and likeness? Well, yes … God has helped me repeatedly ... but have I listened to God? Have I been grateful to Him for His help, gifts and love? Have I realized that His gifts lead me daily to Himself and heaven? Do I really think that God loves me that much? He does. Do I believe this? Every word, action, teaching and miracle of Jesus affirms God’s love for me individually. His constant presence...

For Sunday, September 10, 2023 Ezekiel 33:7-9, Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 18:15-20 Times are constantly changing. I remember growing up in a neighborhood where we knew a number of people living on our block. When I was a sophomore in high school we moved to another side of town, lived there for 12 years and knew only a few of our neighbors. It seemed the “unwritten rule” was privacy and not wanting to get involved. We identified more with our community at church than our neighborhood community. The focus of the Commandments, and the Great Commandments of love as taught by Jesus, are summed up in Paul today: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [Romans 13:9] A Peanuts comic strip zeroes in on the difficulty of living love: Linus has just told Lucy that he would like to be a doctor when he grows up. “You — a doctor!” Lucy says. “Ha, that’s a big laugh. You could never be a doctor. You know why? Because you don’t love mankind, that’s why.” She skips away from him, laughing. In the la...

For Sunday, September 3, 2023 Jeremiah 20:7-9, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 16:21-27 God loves each and every person each and every day. Jesus came to tell us this and He showed this in His words, actions, and total sacrifice, dying on the cross. He calls us to listen to Him and follow Him. Have you noticed that Jesus never says, “Imitate Me?” He never tells us or his special apostles to follow His lifestyle ... but frequently says, “Follow Me.” In fact, we hear Jesus invite us to “Follow Me” 19 times in the Gospels. So how do we follow Jesus? Are we on the right track if we go to Church every week, receive the sacraments worthily, follow the commandments as best we can and live the life of Christ? Is that all that we have to do? It is hard, but we try to live this way. Today Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself/herself, take up their cross, and follow me.” [Matthew 16:24] Now when He says this, He isn't referring to His own crucifixion: He ha...