The Emmaus Pastorate’s Podcast

Homily on 6-29-24

Isn't it so frustrating sometimes?!  And it never fails!  You're off to start this project or begin that task, and ding goes the notification or ring goes the phone!  All of a sudden our plans are completely derailed because this friend is in crisis or a kid needs our help.  UGH!  But perhaps Jesus wants us interrupted.  After all, when the bleeding woman touched him, she was healed!  A minor inconvenience to Jesus of course, but to everyone else it might have caused the death of Jairus' daughter!  No matter to Jesus; he was able to save both despite the delay, the call for help, the crisis.  Maybe the next time we're faced with an annoying interruption, maybe we'll remember that Jesus is present even there, perhaps even calling us into it!

Homily on 6-22-24

Sacred?  Afraid?  Terrified?  Have you no faith?!  Jesus - God himself made man - commanded the skies and seas, and they obeyed him of course.  But he's not just the master of terrestrial matters; he can calm us, too!  When we find ourselves overwhelmed, in the midst of a storm, and about to sink, he's ready to calm our waters.  We just have to ask, and have faith.

How do we grow our faith in Christ?  Prayer!  And what's a great form a prayer?  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament!  Join us on July 7 after the 5:00pm Mass at St. Mary Parish in Strawberry Point, IA for a time of adoring Christ in the Eucharist as the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.  Adoration is a great time for silent prayer in church, and is a perfect way to calm any storm raging in our hearts!  Please call us at 563-928-7200 if you plan to come or have any questions!

Homily from 6-15-24

Don't think you have enough?  Got a mustard seed's worth?!

Homily on 6-9-24

"Who told you that you were naked?"  That was God's question to Adam when Adam and Eve were found naked in the garden.  They realized they were naked after they had sinned, after separating themselves from God.  The same happens to us when we commit wrongs against each other.  Divisions and unrest enter our world.  But Christ says to us that anyone who does the will of the Father is his brother, sister, and mother.  If we want to fix the problems in today's world - and there are more than a few - all we need to do is recommit ourselves to the will of God.  And with Christ's help, we can get there!

Corpus Christi Homily 2024

On this most ancient feast, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (formerly called in Latin Corpus Christi), we are faced a few self-reflection questions.  The Eucharist - not just receiving Communion but the Eucharist itself - should be the very center of our lives, emphasis on should.  But is it?  Do we see what we are?  Do we become what we receive?  Do we make excuses for not coming to Mass and participating?  Do we allow the Eucharist to change us, or do we try to change the Eucharist to suit our own desires?  When we receive God in the Eucharist, we do become more like God?  

In this year of Eucharistic Revival, these are some additional reflections:

• Regularity: do we regularly come to Mass at a regular place or just fit it in sometime?
• One hour fast: do we keep it?
• Church clothes: does now I dress for Mass reflect the respect I have for God and the Eucharist?
• Scriptural preparation: do I read through the Sunday Gospel before Mass?
• Arriving early: do I allow myself time to prepare my heart and mind for worship or just make it in time for the opening song?
• Spiritual preparation: before Mass begins, do I call to mind things for which I'm grateful and things for which I need prayers?
• Full, conscious, and active participation: do I fully, consciously, and actively participate in Mass, am I praying my own private prayers, or am I a couch potato?

As we continue this year of Eucharistic Revival, consider making these actions habits:

• Genuflecting toward the tabernacle and making the Sign of the Cross when entering and leaving a church
• Bowing at Communion just before receiving Eucharist
• Making time to visit the Blessed Sacrament for private prayer, even if it's not exposed and displayed in the monstrance
• Celebrating weekday Mass
• Making the Sign of the Cross when passing by a Catholic church to acknowledge the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
• Making a holy hour
• Keeping respectful conversations and behaviors in daily life

Trinity Sunday Homily 2024

As we mark Trinity Sunday 2024, we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of Fr. John's ordination to the Priesthood of Christ.  We are reminded that without community, there is no church.  Without community, there is almost no purpose of the priesthood.  And it's within a unified community that we find a rich diversity of people!  Despite the perfect unity of the Holy Trinity, we still find three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  So it goes with God's people and the five parishes of the Emmaus Pastorate: though we are called to be one Body of Christ, unity does not equal uniformity.

The staff and parishioners of The Emmaus Pastorate congratulate Fr. John on his 40 years of faithful ministry and praise God for the gift of his vocation!  Ad multos annos!

Pentecost Homily 2024

Got space?  Like the milk cartoons and billboard advertisements of yesteryear, we need to ask ourselves very seriously (more seriously than milk) whether we have space for the Holy Spirit in our lives.  If we don't, oh boy we're in trouble!  But if we do intentionally, consciously make space in our hearts from the Spirit to move in and speak to us, we can accomplish anything because she gives us the gifts against which there is no law or rule!

Confirmation Homily 2024 (Bonus #2)

This past weekend, the Emmaus Pastorate celebrated the Conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation with Archbishop Thomas Zinkula.  Archbishop reminded us that as creations of God, we are inherently good!  But of course, we don't always act good!  To live lives full of grace and goodness then, we have been given 7 Sacraments, 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit to help us.  Using these, we can be actionable, visible disciples of Christ.  Congratulations to the sophomores of the Emmaus Pastorate on this milestone in their faith journeys!

Homily on 5-12-24 (Bonus #1)

Believe, and do.  As Jesus physically left earth, he instructed his disciples to do two things: believe all that he taught them, and do wondrous things in his name.  It's a lofty goal, but not an unreachable one.  This spring as we send congratulations and bid farewell to our graduating seniors, we challenge them likewise.  Believe in all they have learned concerning Christ Jesus, and go bear witness to him.  Hopefully as we all work toward that goal, we can see Jesus still among us!

Homily 5-11-24