"Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us." (CCC, #526) As our Advent journey to Christmas day begins, we remember how Mary's journey to Christmas day began...with a yes. (Lk 1:38)
On the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of of the Universe, we consider some key techings of Jesus about the Kingdom of God and some important aspects of living clearly in His Kingdom now. Finally, we consider the last words of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro S.J., before his martyrdom: Viva Cristo Rey!
The eschatological discourse of Jesus in Mark 13 helps to refine our focus and scope of life lived one day at a time with Jesus, ready for whatever may come...
In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read that Jesus "appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by His sacrifice."(Heb 9:26) How do we respond to heroic love that sacrifices? How does our response to the sacrifice of Jesus change our lives?
The testimony of a lovely doctor who, after dealing with a back issue for years, was overjoyed to experience Jesus heal it at a healing service:) Praise you Jesus!
St. Mark recounts a scribe asking Jesus, "which is the first of all the commandments?" (Mk 12:28) The answer of Jesus continues to draw us deeper into His love...
A marvelous invitation is issued to us by Jesus in The Letter to the Hebrews, "confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." (Heb 4:16)
In Mark 10, we read of the man who asked Jesus, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mk 10:17) In the exchange between the man and Jesus, Mark notes that Jesus, looking at him, loved him...We consider here the gaze of Jesus, the love found on His merciful face.
On Respect Life Sunday we reflect on God's beautiful design of marriage and the sacred gift of life...
In Chapter 11 of the Book of Numbers, we read the story of Moses being told to gather 70 elders of the people and to bring them to The Meeting Tent, a spot where "the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face." (Ex 33:11) After being touched by God, the 70 elders begin to prophesy. We consider in this homily how we too have been touched by God as temples of the Holy Spirit and are empowered to listen to God and to prophesy.
In Mark 9:33-37, we see a beautiful instance of Jesus taking time to correct the incorrect thinking of His apostles...giving them wisdom. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Jesus still have the opportunity to commune with Jesus and receive wisdom from Jesus, the gift of seeing things His way.
At the Shrine of the Sorrowful Mother, beginning the celebration of the 175th anniversary year of the Shrine, this homily was offered on September 15th, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows...
Isaiah prophesied, "streams will burst forth in the desert." (Is 35:6) In and through Jesus Christ, God's love has burst into this world, and of His disciples filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus declares, "rivers of living water will flow from within..."(Jn 7:37)
The lovely testimonies of Cindy & Marisella, who recieved remarkable healing graces from Jesus at an Encounter Ministries Healing Service at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Hanford, CA...praise you Jesus!!!
A reflection on the The Most Blessed Sacrament at a Eucharistic Evening at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fresno, California...
In the dramatic final scene of The Bread of Life Discourse, Jesus invites his listeners to consider, "what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?" (Jn 6:62) Today, here and now, if a man or woman wants to see God...show them the Eucharist.
A dive into the gift of God that is meant to permeate and transform every area of our lives...faith.
Turning away from perfect love is fair description of the essence of St. Paul's famous and sobering words, "do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30) We consider some of the deceptions the enemy uses to get us to turn away from perfect love, the Holy Spirit within us, and two effective methods for staying engaged with the Holy Spirit.
The beautiful testimony of Isaura, who had experienced complete deafness in her left ear for 40 years after a surgery...until Jesus opened her ear at an Encounter Ministries event. PRAISE YOU JESUS!!!
Given at a Holy Spirit Outpouring conference, this talk is a dive into John 6 and the gift of the Most Holy Eucharist...
In John 6: 1-15, Jesus gives St. Philip a question that is meant to help Philip understand going forward how to think in light of the presence of Jesus, and how to think like Jesus. The presence of Jesus radicallly changes our ability to think...if we're docile to the Holy Spirit's ability to conform our thinking to the mind of Christ.
In the eyes of Jesus, heavens love draws us into a great affection that never ceases...
In St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, we read of a marvelous mystery of love, that God has truly destined us to live in the depths of Trinitarian love forever. Yet, free will remains and daily we are given the grace to step into this God-given destiny...
A dive into St. Paul's experience of the Lord letting him know, "my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 2:9)
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit given in baptism, disciples of Jesus are truly empowered to live supernaturally powerful lives...