The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

What's your comfort food?  A bag of chips?  Some pasta or soup?  This season of Advent, and especially this week, we're reminded that we need to take comfort in the fact that Christ has cleared the way into heaven for us.  All we need to do is let go of this world's trappings and walk the way!  And that should be very comforting!

As Advent begins in this tumultuous year, remember this: when the world starts going to pot or when the clay just isn't centered anymore, go to the Potter!

On this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Fr. John leaves us with three simple questions.  Are you a sheep?  Are you a shepherd?  Who is king of your heart, mind, and life?  Hopefully to the first two is a resounding, "Yes!"  And hopefully we can always and honestly say that Christ is our king in everything.  But...are we?  Can we?

While Fr. John is on retreat, Fr. Cyrus Gallagher visits the Emmaus Pastorate this weekend.  Fr. Cyrus represents Unbound, an organization that helps spread resources around the world.  He asks us this question: as we live daily in the Mission Territory, are we using our talents or allowing them to stunt?  For more on Fr. Cyrus' mission, please visit www.unbound.org.

Fr. John returns this weekend with a rousing homily on the realities facing us today and of what the scriptures remind us this month.  First, we must be prepared.  Second, we cannot rely on others for faith; we must grow our own faith.  Third, despite the discord in the world, there is no disunity in the Sacrament of Unity, the Eucharist that we all aspire to celebrate in heaven.  Let's get ready...for we don't know the hour when the Lord is coming!

Filling in for Fr. John, Fr. Dustin Vu asks how many of us want to become saints.  The answer is tricky but simple: we should all want to be saints!  And the Beatitudes give us some direction on to how to do it!

Although we are unable to celebrate Sunday Mass, members of the Emmaus Pastorate have gathered to pray a Liturgy of the Word, complete with music, the Sunday readings, and a message from Fr. John.

Jesus vs. Caesar.  Church vs. State.  Should there really be that separation?  If a ruler's power is represented by his/her image on currency, God's power should be represented by his image on our hearts.  Fr. John has this and more in this week's homily!

Every single day, we receive an invitation to interact with Christ, to join him at the great Wedding Feast.  Every single day, we get to RSVP yes or no.  Which are you choosing this week?

How many friends do you have who are people with whom you also disagree?  That's a pretty good measurement of how we are or are not building the Kingdom.  As we, the vineyard of the Lord, grow and intertwine with others, are we really professing that "all are welcome in this place?"