The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Homily on 5-18-25

New.  Change.  We tend to dislike these words because they involve something different than our status quo.  They sometimes also require us to put down our own ideals, let go of our own desires, and allow something different to happen within us.  In today's Gospel, Jesus gives a "new" commandment - that for Jews wasn't actually new at all - which requires people wanting to follow him to do new and different things, to allow God to perform changes within them.  We don't always like these things, but if we do allow Christ to work within us, the possibilities are endless!

Good Shepherd Sunday Homily 2025

To whom do you listen?  That's the question as we mark the Fourth Sunday of Easter, which is often called Good Shepherd Sunday.  Certainly we listen to our moms - or we should anyway!  With the election of a new Holy Father, hopefully we're listening to him as well.  But Jesus is the Good Shepherd, to whom we should listen always.  In 2025, with all the news and social outlets surrounding us, to whom are you listening?

Homily for First Communion Weekend 2025

Better and better!  That's what Jesus makes us when we come to receive him in the Eucharist.  Whether it's our first time or maybe we've received him faithfully for 50+ years, every time we receive Jesus' Body and Blood, we are made better and better disciples.  

Congratulations to all of our First Communicants!  We are very proud of you and wish you many, many blessings!

Divine Mercy Sunday Homily 2025

Miracles happen when people are unified in the Lord.  Take St. John, stranded on the island of Patmos, for example.  Even in that banishment, he still received the overwhelming message from Jesus to "be not afraid."  Take another example from the Upper Room.  Even as the disciples were terrified when Jesus appeared despite the door being locked, Jesus said, "Peace be with you."  Miracles!

But then Jesus gave them all a job, the same job he gives us today: be merciful as God is merciful.  Now mercy isn't getting even.  It's about forgiveness.  And before we can be merciful to others, we must first accept God's mercy upon ourselves.  When we start thinking it's too hard to give or accept mercy, we need to remember that all things are possible with God.

Mercy is the great thing our country and world need now because we are so divided.  Showing and granting forgiveness to others creates peace, concord, and unity - a miracle for those united in the Lord!  In order for an alleluia to be on our lips this Easter, we must show mercy to others!

Easter Sunday Homily 2025

What difference does the empty tomb make?  Flowers are nice, but what's it all about?  It's about transformation, about change, and that's one thing people hate the most!  God always accepts us where we are on our own spiritual journeys, but he never wants to leave us there.  He always wants to draw us closer to him.  So let's ask ourselves if we're more than Jesus than this time last year.  This year, let us dare to be more like him!  From the staff of the Emmaus Pastorate, happy Easter!

Beginning this Easter Sunday episode is Though Not Seeing You, arranged by Craig Kingsbury and featuring John Uhal on guitar.  Following Fr. John's homily you heard Three Days, arranged by Jeffrey Honore.  Both were sung by the St. Joseph Choir, conducted by John Uhal, and accompanied by Becky Gundacker.  Permission to stream under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Easter Vigil Homily 2025 + Music

Why do we do this?  Why do we gather late at night to celebrate a liturgy more different than any other?  Well it's not for doctrine or dogma.  Christ didn't come to set church teachings or a catechism, though he did do that.  No, we come instead to share our faith.  We come to share the faith that Christ brought us and the Good News is carries because Jesus desires that every person enter eternal life.  But to share the faith we profess, we must also accept the crosses and burdens that come with it, just ask Christ did.  The best thing we can do to express our faith is to share it with others regardless of the cost and with the aim of inviting new members into its fold through the sacraments.  From the staff of the Emmaus Pastorate, happy Easter to you and your family!

Included in this episode is the Easter Alleluia, the first time "alleluia" is uttered since Ash Wednesday 40 days ago.  It was cantored by mother and daughter Anne and Molly Franta.  Deacon Paul Dolan proclaimed the Gospel, Luke 24:1-12.  As Fr. John introduced, the Litany of Saints ends this episode.  John Becker's rendition was cantored by Tara Ketoff.  Both pieces were accompanied by Coleen Glaza, conducted by John Uhal, and featured the combined ensembles of the Emmaus Pastorate, Collen Moore on flute, and Steve Steinfadt and Marge Gaul on guitar.

Good Friday Homily 2025 + Music

The crucifying has continued.  In every sin we commit, every time the innocent suffer, Jesus' crucifixion continues.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  It can stop with us.

Beginning this episode is the Responsorial Psalm for Good Friday, a setting of Psalm 31 by John Michael Talbot titled Father, I Put My Life in Your Hands.  It was cantored by Tony Tjaden.  Following Fr. John's homily is Tree of Life by Marty Haugen.  Both are sung by the combined ensembles of the Emmaus Pastorate, accompanied by Susie Tjaden, conducted by John Uhal, and feature Colleen Moore on flute, Steve Steinfadt on guitar, and Israel de la Rosa on electric bass.  Permission to stream under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Holy Thursday Homily 2025 + Musical Selections

Jesus gives us a model to follow.  It's about loving each other and becoming His Body and Blood.  It's a model to follow that will call us to a life deeper than we can imagine.  It's a model that will lead us to heaven on earth.

Preceding this episode is Curtis Stephan's Bread of Angels, and following Fr. John's homily is Craig Larson's arrangement of How Beautiful by Twila Paris.  Both are sung by the combined ensembles of the Emmaus Pastorate, accompanied by Kristin Fitzgerald, conducted by John Uhal, and featuring Colleen Moore on flute.  Permission to stream granted under ONE LICENSE #A-626030.

Palm Sunday Homily 2025

Are you sleeping!?  There's no napping in the Garden!  Stay awake, and pray.  Pray that you may not undergo the test, and pray to relieve someone else's test!

Homily on 4-6-25

God is trying to do something new in you.  Will you let him?