A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, June 21, 2026 Jeremiah 20:10-13, Romans 5:12-15, Matthew 10:26-33 Today Jesus says to the Apostles: “Fear no one … and do not be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” [Matthew 10:26, 28] So what am I afraid of? Having enough money today to pay all the bills? This certainly exists for so many people we know who live in the United States. What else am I afraid of — continued worries about my health and the health of my family? My future in a hectic world? The many places around the world that are fighting rebellions, terrorists, failed governments — with no hope for the poor and those out of work? This is a lot to worry about. We live in a world where money too often is the standard of success. We live in a world of competition, where the world values possessions more than commitment. It is a sorry world where racial diversity, culture and even the environment are secondary to the desires of those in power. Our readings today continue to elaborate...

For Sunday, June 14, 2026 Exodus 19:2-6, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36-10:8 The great solidifying event of the Old Testament is the call of the reluctant Moses to save the Israelites and their continuance as God’s chosen people. The Exodus event is captivating. The Israelites go to Egypt to save their livestock from the plagues and weather that have devastated their land in the Middle East. Seeing their numbers grow so large, the King of Egypt says, “See! the Israelite people have multiplied and become more numerous than we are! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave the land.” [Exodus 1:9-10] Egypt oppresses the Israelites, forcing them to build the Pharaoh’s garrison cities. Then the midwives are ordered to kill any Israelite male born. If the child is a girl, it may live, but by decree the males are to be killed — drowned — to control their growth. A man from the house of Le...

For Sunday, June 7, 2026 Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58 We have been coming to the Eucharist for a small time (First Communions, Holy Thursday’s acceptance into the Church Eucharist) or for a longer and much longer time. I’m sure there have been times in our lives when we received, and were so much in step with Jesus and the Church, that something very special “happened” — we definitely felt close to God and that we were loved and cared for. Yet at other times it seemed like a time of nothingness, boredom, perhaps a waste of time — exactly what Satan desires for us. God isn’t important … He doesn’t care . This has never been true. Today we hear from John, where Jesus is addressing the Jewish crowds. He is in Galilee and, as usual, a large crowd is following. Some are curious, wanting to see this person who is so considerate and compassionate to people who are hurting. Accounts of His healing are all around — it seems that no illness, disease or accident ...