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  • Jesus Teaches a Master Class on Evangelization | #1616

    Jesus Teaches a Master Class on Evangelization | #1616
    2026/03/11

    Lent, 3rd Sunday (A) Our annual parish Lenten retreat talked about discipleship, stewardship, and evangelization. Let's watch Jesus as he shows us how to evangelize.

    Jews and Samaritans don't get along, so Jesus starts with something they have in common. Jesus knows that she is thirsty. All this time as she has been searching and thirsting, Jesus has been the one she has been looking for.

    The Samaritan woman has been blocking the flow of God's life by her selfish lifestyle choices. She tries to change the subject to an argument about religion. Jesus points out her deep desire to be a worshiper of the true God.

    She leaves her water jar. She no longer needs to ask the things of this world to satisfy her because she has found the source of true life and true love.

    When we are trying to evangelize, we need to first remove the obstacles that prevent us from truly receiving the life of God. We need to recognize how thirsty we are, and unblock ourselves from all the ways we have tried to satisfy our own thirst with something other than Jesus.

    Jesus was sitting on the well. God was standing on the rock in front of Moses. In a similar way, Jesus is already present in the lives of those we love. He can do for them what we cannot do ourselves.

    Evangelization is not about convincing people that we are right. It's about helping people we love discover how thirsty they are, and then showing them where to find the spring of life-giving water.

    (8 Mar 2026)

    Going Deeper: Listen to Roxane Salonen interview Peter Andrastek about how to evangelize and the lay vocation. How is God calling you to evangelize? You can also read Bishop David's letter on sharing Jesus with others.

    Image Source | Thank you to Patrons Mark & Kathy! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform. | Thank you Patrons Pete and Patty! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.
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    13 分
  • A Mountain Top Experience As We Journey Into the Desert | #1615

    A Mountain Top Experience As We Journey Into the Desert | #1615
    2026/03/02

    Lent, 2nd Sunday (A) Lent does not exist for itself. It exists to prepare us for Easter and new life in Christ. On the way into the desert, the nation of Israel stops for a mountain-top experience. The Israelites have been brought out of Egypt but they still have Egypt in their hearts. Are we the sort of people that have to wander in the desert because we don't trust God, or are we the new generation that trusts in God?

    Jesus gives his three closest disciples a mountain-top experience. I had a mountain-top experience in adoration this past week. When did Jesus become real for you? Save your mountain-top moments. Keep going back to them. Here are three ways you can do that: 1) Make a commitment to come to Mass on Sunday. When you do, kneel down and reconnect with a place where you felt that God was with you. 2) Make time to come to confession so you can look Jesus in the face again. 3) Make time for adoration. Save those mountain top moments; you'll need them as we go back down into the desert.

    (1 Mar 2026)

    Going Deeper: When did God become real for you? How has he revealed his presence to you? How is he trying to strengthen you for your combat in the desert?

    AdobeStock_232588083 | Thank you to Patrons Mark & Kathy! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform. | Thank you Patrons Pete and Patty! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.
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    16 分
  • Guarding the Garden | #1614

    Guarding the Garden | #1614
    2026/03/02

    Lent, 1st Sunday (A) Adam is given the job to "keep" the garden (the Hebrew word is shamar). Adam fails to guard both the garden and his wife.

    Jesus feels abandoned by God. He falls back on the lessons God taught the Israelites in their 40 years in the desert. Jesus is guarding and protecting his true identity, and God's true identity as his loving Father.

    We do not conquer sin and death by figuring out the techniques that Jesus used. Instead, we conquer sin and death by joining Jesus in HIS victory over sin and death. We need to guard and protect our true identity this Lenten season. Guard your mind: "Take every thought captive to obey Christ." Guard your words. Guard your actions. Guard your true identity in Christ.

    (22 Feb 2026)

    AdobeStock_1834183058 | Thank you to Patrons Mark & Kathy! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform. | Thank you Patrons Pete and Patty! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.
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    14 分
  • Half-Hearted Lovers | #1613

    Half-Hearted Lovers | #1613
    2026/02/22

    Ash Wednesday • Would you want a boyfriend or girlfriend who loved you half-heartedly? How many of you would want to play on a team with half-hearted teammates? Do you want to live in a family who loves each other half-heartedly?

    Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta were half-hearted Catholics. Then an angel appeared to them to prepare them for Mary's visit. That following spring, on May 13, 1917, Mary appeared to them. She told them they needed to pray and do penance for the conversion of sinners. They began to pray many rosaries and make many sacrifices, including giving away their lunch to other poor shepherd children. They were praying, fasting, and giving alms.

    During Lent, we not only do penance for our own sins, but also for the sins in the world. Our prayers, sacrifices, and alms-giving can make the world a better place. Stop living a half-hearted life!

    (18 Feb 2026)

    Going Deeper: How would your life be different if you loved God with your whole heart? How does Lent look different if your sacrifices are not just for you, but for the whole world?

    Image Source | Thank you Patrons Pete and Patty! | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.
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    11 分
  • Let Your Yes Mean YES and Your No Mean NO | #1612

    Let Your Yes Mean YES and Your No Mean NO | #1612
    2026/02/19
    Ordinary Time, 6th Sunday (A) Campus ministry is thriving at UW-Oshkosh thanks to your donations to the Bishop's Appeal and the Raising Vocations collection. Missionaries are reaching college students with the love of Jesus, and those students are themselves becoming missionaries on college campuses around the U.S.. You might have heard this sermon: "You're not holy enough; try harder!" That's not really the Gospel message. Our intellect was designed to know the truth and our will was designed to choose that which is good. Sin darkens our intellect and weakens our will. It's easy to believe lies, and even when we know the truth, we don't always do it. Whenever we make good choices, we become more free. Whenever we make evil choices, we become less free. We are working with darkened intellects, weakened will, and we are being harassed by an evil genius bent on destroying us. Fortunately, God gives us the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills. The Gospel is not saying, "Try harder." Rather, Jesus is pointing out to us that it's not enough for us to follow the rules. Our hearts must also be transformed. Let us say YES to the Holy Spirit and his truth and goodness. Let us say NO to even the little lies and all the small ways we don't fully love. (15 Feb 2026) Going Deeper: "Holy Spirit, where is it that you want to bring me into more freedom and truth and goodness this Lenten season?" Listen to Msgr. Shea's keynote at Seek 2024, "Why Are We So Depressed?" AdobeStock_254749271 | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.
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    18 分
  • Illuminating Holy Matrimony | #1611

    Illuminating Holy Matrimony | #1611
    2026/01/26

    Ordinary Time, 3rd Sunday (A) Jesus is the light. By the light of his love, we can see our own lives more clearly. We know that we were made by love and for love. Love moves us into communion and community. From the very beginning of creation, Adam and Eve were able to receive one another as a gift. But after sin happens, they fall into the trap of using and being used. This leads to rivalries, jealousies, and divisions.

    How can we give ourselves completely to one another? We need to start by giving ourselves completely and totally to God. God will teach us that we are a gift an will help us make a gift of ourselves to one another free of fear and using.

    Married couples are a light to the world. Let your light shine!

    (25 Jan 2026)

    Going Deeper: Do you know any married couples whose love really shines? How do you see God's love through them?

    Image Source | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.
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    16 分
  • I Never Thought I Would Preach a Homily on This Topic | #1609

    I Never Thought I Would Preach a Homily on This Topic | #1609
    2026/01/17

    Baptism of the Lord (A) We naturally love that which is good. Therefore, you should love yourself. Rightly-ordered self-love is the fruit of seeing your own goodness and loving that which is good. You should desire your own continued existence and your own flourishing. You are not the source of your own goodness. We love our Creator as the source of our goodness. And when we look around at others, we see that they are also good like us, and we love them. So love of others and love of God flow from love of self. Do you see how important it is to love yourself rightly?

    This is exactly why the Devil attacks your value! Most of us struggle to love ourselves rightly because the Devil keeps attacking our value and dignity. Note: disordered self love is when I falsely think I have more goodness than anyone else. I might even think I am better than God himself. That is disordered self love because it's not rooted in the truth. This isn't what we are talking about.

    So how can we learn to love ourselves rightly? The human community must welcome each person and love that person as God does. The human community needs to be transformed. It is transformed by the love of God. Finding and experiencing God's love is essential for us to learn to love ourselves rightly.

    Jesus got a good start because Mary and Joseph created a good family environment. But at his Baptism, he still needed to hear his Father say, "Son, I love you, and I'm proud of you." We all need to hear these words. And we need to live in this love. Repeat after me: "It is good that I exist." Now turn to your neighbor and tell them, "It is good that you exist."

    (11 Jan 2026)

    Going Deeper: If yourself were a friend of yours, would that friend feel loved by you? Two podcast episodes that inspired this topic: Restore the Glory Podcast Episode 139: Philosophy and Healing w/ Fr. Matthew Rolling and Interior Integration for Catholics 173: Aristotle and Aquinas on Proper Self-Love.

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    15 分
  • Let's Talk About Confirmation | #1610

    Let's Talk About Confirmation | #1610
    2026/01/24
    Ordinary Time, 2nd Sunday (A) Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of our Lord's Baptism. This week, the readings speak to us of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is the sacrament most closely connected to the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was Baptized by John in the River Jordan, me came out of the water and the Holy Spirit landed on him like a dove. The Holy Spirit remained with him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "His whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him 'without measure.' This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.... Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn." Ordinarily, the Bishop is the one who confers the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Bishop is a successor to the Apostles who were present at Pentecost. This practice shows that the Christian who is confirmed is in Communion with the local Bishop, who is the guarantor and servant of unity, catholicity, and apostolicity in his church. The Bishop traces a sign of the cross on the forehead of each person to be confirmed and says, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." A seal in the ancient world was a mark of ownership. St Paul tells us that God has put his seal upon us. It shows ownership and protection. And it is permanent. Like Baptism, Confirmation can be received only once. It marks the person as a Christian. The catechism calls this "an indelible spiritual mark" which means that your Confirmation cannot be erased by any power. What are the effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation? "It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: - it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, "Abba! Father!"; - it unites us more firmly to Christ; - it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us; - it renders our bond with the Church more perfect; - it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross." The Syriac liturgy of Antioch expresses the epiclesis for the consecration of the sacred chrism (myron) in this way: "[Father . . . send your Holy Spirit] on us and on this oil which is before us and consecrate it, so that it may be for all who are anointed and marked with it holy myron, priestly myron, royal myron, anointing with gladness, clothing with light, a cloak of salvation, a spiritual gift, the sanctification of souls and bodies, imperishable happiness, the indelible seal, a buckler of faith, and a fearsome helmet against all the works of the adversary." "Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. the latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands. "To receive Confirmation one must be in a state of grace. One should receive the sacrament of Penance in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act. Each candidate for Confirmation is accompanied by a sponsor, a fellow Christian who has already been Confirmed, is at least 16 years old, and is himself living a good example of faith in the Holy Spirit. Each candidate also chooses a patron saint and is Confirmed in the name of the saint. So we have an earthly helper, a fellow Christian, and a heavenly helper. We need to keep and preserve the gifts that God gives us. We must all work to grow in a more intimate union with Christ, and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit. (18 Jan 2026) Going Deeper: Read about the ordination of Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8. 1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by ...
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    16 分