The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Homily on 10-29-23

Respect Life doesn't just mean protecting the unborn.  Yes, it begins there, but it only begins there.  Once we respect the lives of unborn children, we then have to continue respecting and protecting those lives until they naturally end.  Images across mainstream media depicting children being washed up on shore because they couldn't make the treacherous journey from their homeland to a safer place do not bode well with the Catholic understanding of a consistent ethic of life.  Protecting migrants in a Respect Life issue.  Sheltering the homeless is a Respect Life issue.  Feeding the hungry is a Respect Life issue.  Loving one other with our whole heart, mind, and soul is a Respect Life Issue.  Loving each other as God loves us is a Respect Life issue.  As we end October, let's be truly prolife!

Homily from 10-22-23

Being pro-life is much more than just advocating for the banning of abortion in your state or country.  Sure, that's a good place to start, but it's far from the end.  Professing a pro-life belief includes feeding the hungry, housing the homelessness, creating peace where there is violence, and providing for the safety and welfare of each individual person, whether young, old, sick, incarcerated, unborn, or of a different tongue or creed.  And being pro-life is not just praying for all those things (and more), but taking actions as well.

 

In this homily, the study Fr. John references can be found at www.guttmacher.org/article/2022/06/long-term.

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!