The preacher is called to speak to the fears and concerns of the people.  Birth, death, union, separation, love and hate are the major topics of life.  No priest or minister can save anyone.  He offers himself as a guide to a fearful people.  This guidance is the first sign of hope.  When shared, fear is no longer paralyzing.  It mobilizes us to a way of liberation in God.  ~ Fr. Matt

                                                    

There is much evidence in the scriptures for the providence of God.  Manna was offered to the Hebrews, prophets and judges were guiding the people.  Jesus fed the five thousand with bread and fish.  He united the Last Supper with his dying and rising, hence a sustainable source of nourishment for His people.  We are called to continue the providence of God when Jesus offers us the admonition to “give them some food yourselves!”       ~ Fr. Matt

 

 

 

 

 

We are not only commemorating a doctrine of our God, but we are celebrating a communion of Divine Persons who have willed us into being, redeemed us from ourselves, and call us each day to a fuller experience, deeper knowledge, and closer union.    ~ Fr. Matt

                                                              

 

The Tower of Babel accentuated the arrogance of men and women, creating a world without God.  Let us not allow our sinfulness and selfishness contaminate Pentecost which emphasizes our ministry of peace and pardon in Jesus’s name.               ~ Fr. Matt

                                                              

 

Our lives are found in the physical.  Should we make a trip to search for the upper room in Jerusalem?  What about the Upper Room where we encounter Jesus with regularity? During the pandemic we desperately long for the Eucharist.  Even with this emptiness we locate and create and Upper Room in which we daily meet the Lord.      ~ Fr. Matt

                                                                                   

 

Hope is an orientation of the spirit.  Hope transcends the present moment and is anchored beyond the horizons we can see.  Hope does not associate itself with joy, predicting the ultimate victory we long for.  Hope is working for something that is worthwhile, not that it will necessarily be a success.        ~ Fr. Matt

 

We consider Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Today Jesus emphasizes his personhood as our  main attraction to him.  In Old Testament there was an emphasis on the Law as presence of God, the Essenes put a priority on preparing the way of the Lord, early Christians followed Jesus as the new way.  The way we look at Jesus (Christology) is the way we look at the community of the church (ecclesiology).        ~ Fr. Matt

 

We need to preserve who we are through baptism.  May we persevere in these challenging times to the fulfillment that awaits us in our relationship with Jesus Christ.   ~ Fr. Matt

 

 

The Resurrection is not a celebration of a past event.  In today’s gospel of Luke the emphasis on presence of risen Lord is in the breaking of the bread and in breaking open the word.       ~ Fr. Matt

 

 

Having lived through the cross of the Covid19 and all the changes we have made in our daily living we are called to turn over a new leaf.  The change must be from our heart, mind, and will.  We can’t go back to old behaviors.  The battle is still waging.    ~ Fr. Matt