Let us wait for and welcome the coming of the Lord. They say if we live to be 70 years old we spend at least three years waiting. In terms of faith, we consider our entire span of life as a period of waiting, waiting for the God who comes. ~ Fr. Matt
Christmas is coming. How will Jesus manifest Himself to us? His appearance will come in the many requests for charitable help, the Salvation Army bell ringer, and the person confined to home or hospital. Jesus comes in me and you, in the unexpected and most unwelcomed guest. Let us look for Christ in the quiet and chaos of our life. ~ Fr. Matt
Pontius Pilate demands the inscription on the cross to proclaim that He did not bow to the condemnation of the mob. In essence confirming Jesus’ innocence, to mock Jesus to placate the Jewish leaders, and as a warning that any further rebellions would have the same consequences. The inscription truly describes Jesus’ life and mission namely King of the Jews and that of all humanity. ~ Fr. Matt
The future is known to God alone. He is responsible for its unfolding day by day, year by year. We are called to be responsive by using Gods gifts in the present moment. ~ Fr. Matt
The devil is in the details as we’ve been told. The leaders of the Hebrew religion had a very narrow approach to God and life. Hence they wrote off and rejected Jesus as Messiah and Savior. Jesus revealed the compassionate face of God outside the Mosaic law. He values people more than rubrics. Sometimes we find our answers for life in tedious footnotes of our Catholicism. Let us not miss the obvious truth, Go is Love and we who abide in love abide in God and God in us. ~ Fr. Matt
True wisdom does not judge and condemn. True wisdom understands and forgives. If we live each day as our last, then we shall prepare a worthy welcome for the Lord. If one day salvation knocked at our door, would we recognize and welcome him? ~ Fr. Matt
Prayer turns us outward, not inward. Prayer is a leap of faith. Our supplications do not change God but changes our experience of life. The tax collector looks outward. He gazed upon God with awe and gratitude. He left a changed man. He threw himself on the mercy of God. The Pharisee looked inwardly and remained anchored to his own self righteousness. He made no leap of faith. He did not change. ~ Fr. Matt
Moses in the Old Testament story and the widow described in the Gospel illustrate the quality of prayer we need to develop. We have to be tenacious in our persistence in prayer. Breathed by God the scriptures have authority and power in our own day and in our own lives just as the years gone by. ~ Fr. Matt
Just as Naaman and the Samaritan were saved in the moment they praised and thanked God for their healing, so shall we experience the healing touch of our Lord as we offer thanks and praise in the Eucharistic celebration. We shall feel the effects of salvation. ~ Fr. Matt
Faith, trust, and surrender are the hall marks of today’s readings. Habakkuk the prophet had an unrelenting confidence in God’s promise. Even with a miniscule of authentic faith makes it possible for us to meet the demands of Jesus. ~ Fr. Matt