A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, August 31, 2025 Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24; Luke 14:1, 7-14 At first glance, today’s themes talk to us about being humble, realizing that our lives are a gift from God. Underneath there is a deeper insight into our actions in responding to God’s gifts to each of us. I’m gifted — you’re gifted. We look at our basic gifts: sight, hearing, speech, taste, feeling, smell. Then we explore how these gifts have influenced our memory, understanding, imagination and dreams for the future, and the development of our personalities and relationships. We should start with a basic question: How grateful am I to God for these unique gifts He has blessed me with? Have I abused them more than using them gratefully? Why? How have my actions influenced my relationship with my loving God? The readings today describe the attitude we should have when we give and when we receive. Am I developing humility and gratitude and a desire to spread the extravagant generosity of Go...

For Sunday, August 24, 2025 Isaiah 66:18-21; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30 How do I view myself in God’s eyes? God considers all of us as His friends. “This is my commandment: Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. ” [John 15:12-14] This is God’s vision. Is it mine? Some points to ponder: The vision of a disciple must be the vision of God. My vision cannot be small-minded — I must see with wide-angle lenses. God offers the grace of salvation to ALL , including people I don’t know, don’t like, or are mean to me — and all others. God’s saving grace is unbounded — limitless. It reaches out to those whom the People of God not only distrust but even sometimes despise. Do I feel that only those in the right groups, who believe the correct religious doctrines and follow an approved way of life, should be in the company of the saved? God doesn’t. There is something dang...

For Sunday, August 17, 2025 Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53 Why did Jesus do what He did? Why didn’t He fill the people who came to Him with all the necessary “needs” — “help” — “changes of attitude” — “enthusiasm” — for loving that they needed? Why did Jesus have to die that horrible death? If God is a good and loving God, why didn’t He make loving an easier task to do? Why do I have to love those I just can’t stand? It’s good for us to put Jesus’ life and teachings in perspective. Jesus came to tell us that God loves us and created each person to show that love — and Jesus witnessed that, promising that those who have faith and believe in Him will be welcomed into God’s home — heaven. God never promised an easy life. The central mystery of Christianity is that of the redemption of Christ, through suffering and death to His resurrection and glory. That is the way for each of us: no cross, no crown. Life is living love, and love is wonderful — especially when we ar...

For Sunday, August 10, 2025 Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48 A few personal thoughts to start our reflections today: Where and how did I come to believe and have faith in the important people who have come into my life: parents, siblings, family, teachers, religious figures, bosses, acquaintances? And: Since faith involves trust, acceptance and confidence in someone or something, EVEN WHEN there is uncertainty or lack of complete evidence or proof, how do I process faith in my life? One more: What have I learned from my trials in living my faith when I had to redefine what faith means to me? Today — in the middle of Ordinary Time — we are confronted with a theme normally associated with the end of the Liturgical Year and the season of Advent: the vigilance that we live a life of faith by looking at examples of faith and the heroes who have witnessed to God and His love for us and our love for Him. The book of Wisdom was written about 50 years before the coming of ...

For Sunday, August 3, 2025 Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21 Let me ask you a question: What is your life like? I ask the same question of myself: What is my life like as I approach my 84th year, my 58th year in priesthood and in “retirement” (whatever that is)? I’m sure many would reply that the pace of their lives is hectic. It really is hectic. We are constantly on the move, filling our calendars with appointments — doctors, business and friends. Our society is very mobile, speeding from one place to another. Our daily living is driving kids around … caring for elderly parents and/or relatives … helping where we can in parishes, communities, hospitals, nursing homes, volunteer work, and so on. Life seems to be a set of problems to be solved, worked out — and we are “programmed” — “geared” — to get things done quickly. Our days are never long enough. We are surrounded by cell phones, tablets and computers which crave our constant attention. Our socie...

For Sunday, July 27, 2025 Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13 I remember that as a youngster I would go to my mom first to ask for a favor or for something I “needed” (or thought I did) … or to go someplace with my friends or take an overnight. If Mom didn’t like it, I got a NO and I thought I was sunk. Most of the time she would say, “Go ask your father.” I would try to find out from my siblings, “Is this a good time to talk to Dad?” Dad never gave approval right off the bat; we had to talk about it. Would I be missing my regular chores? How were my grades? If it was summer, was I keeping up with my scheduled summer reading? Sometimes I had to do some bargaining ... sometimes he did the bargaining. Do I sometimes bring that same bargaining to God? I did way back when but now, sometimes, it just is “one and out.” Well, why? Bold Bargaining is today’s focus in the readings. The Old Testament looks in affirmation on people who take time and “argue” or “bargain” with G...

For Sunday, July 20, 2025 Genesis 18:1-10, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:38-42 In today's readings there are many themes leading us in different areas of reflection, but I believe they focus our attention on what it means to be a follower of Jesus — what it means for ME to be a Christian in today’s world, here and now. Jesus promised heaven for each one of His followers and every person created, so Heaven is my ultimate goal. How do I get there? By having faith … believing … living the commandments, especially Jesus’ love commands. We complicate so many things but the readings call us to the basics: Knowing God loves us all the time helps us live love with His help — forgiving; being kind, compassionate and grateful; and letting the Lord live in our lives. How am I doing with these today? How do the scripture examples help each of us? We look to the readings to reflect on them. A short history on the origins of Israel’s ancestors: Moses describes God’s creation activities and the Ol...