The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Homily from 10-15-23

All are welcome.  Not all are welcome but only if you're straight, white, normal, and dressed to impress.  Nope.  All are welcome, despite your abilities, despite your attire, despite your preferences, despite your accomplishments and failings.  All are welcome in God's house.  The question is: Do we believe and act like it?

Homily from 10-8-23

Violence is everywhere we look these days.  Even though we make it through the day without murdering, kidnapping, or stealing, we also can commit violence on the daily.  It's simply engrained into our human nature!  But it's not natural to God's nature, and that's the attitude to which we all aspire!

The Sacrament of Unity - Homily from 10-1-23

Change is in the air!  Not changes to theology or doctrine - not a chance!  But how we operate, how we think, how we live must change.  As the Synod of Synodality begins this week, we pray for openness to the Holy Spirit so that we might more fully live as the Sacrament of Unity that binds us each Sunday.

God’s Ways vs. Our Ways

News flash #1: God's ways are not our ways.

News flash #2: God's thoughts are not our thoughts.

Sometimes these hit us hard.  We think, "Gee, I did more work than he/she did!  Why does he/she get the same pay as me?!"  But that's not how God works.  God's version of justice isn't fairness.  God's version of justice is equality.  In his infinite goodness, God looks beyond our faults and failings and instead gives us - not what we deserve but - that which he wants to give us!  And thank God for that!

And happy priesthood Sunday to Fr. John!  Thank you for all you do for the Emmaus Pastorate!

Forgive Everyone Everything

Our First Reading and Gospel this weekend have a clear message: Forgive Everyone Everything.  Period.  End of Story.  Forgive everyone everything.  If we find it hard, that's OK.  That's why we have a Savior to help us.  But if don't forgive everyone everything, we're damned.

Homily on 9-10-23

Being a Christian and "attending" Mass aren't spectator sports.  They aren't something we simply absorb for an hour on Sundays.  We ARE Christians - all day, everyday, even while sleeping!  And we aren't called to be armchair disciples but active parts of Christ's body.  No one should simply attend Mass; we are all participants in it, even from the pews.  So what are you doing as a disciple these days?  What sacrifices are you presenting as we worship?

Take Up Your Cross - Homily on 9-3-23

Jesus didn't say, "Pick up your cross."  He said, "Take up your cross."  It's a subtle difference, but the meaning is huge.  As Christians, each of us has a cross to bear, but the beauty is that we don't bear it alone.  Who's helping carry yours?  And who are you helping carry theirs?

Homily from 8-27-23

Who is Jesus?  Do you know him?  Or do you just know about him?  Who do you say that he is?  The answers might be revealing!

Todos, Todos, Todos - Homily from 8-20-23

"Todos, Todos, Todos," says Pope Francis.  The Holy Father has reminded us from the start of his pontificate that the gospel message was intended for "everyone, everyone, everyone,"  Just look at Jesus, who spoke to a Cannonite (a no-no then) woman in public (also a no-no back then)!  So who are you not spreading the Good News with today?

Homily from Assumption 2023

Why do we have holy days, these days that fall between Sundays when the church says we MUST got to church?  They are established because they're keys to our faith, foundations on which we profess our beliefs.  But what sets this holy day of obligation apart from others, especially the Ascension of Jesus?  It's because of Mary's "Yes" that we celebrate her on the Solemnity of the Assumption.  Because Mary said to the angel, "Let it be done to me according to your word," God honored her with sparing her a mortal death and instead brought her directly into the heavenly kingdom.  The question for us on this holy day is this: can we be worthy of such a reward?  It all starts with saying "Yes" to God!