How many times do we decide to go our own direction rather than follow God? In today's first reading, the esteemed princes don't like God's message of surrender. While God's message may not be popular, let us surrender our control and desires and trust God's love and wisdom.

Catholic Mass readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 17, 2025

First Reading: Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 40: 2, 3, 4, 18
Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 1-4
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ conquered sin and death by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father! This double victory is for us all, and our motherly model and teacher of what it looks like is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Listen now to hear how the great things with which the Lord favored Mary—her Immaculate Conception and her Assumption—hold out hope and example for us.

Catholic Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mass during the Day, August 15, 2025

First Reading: Revelation 11: 19a; 12: 1-6a, 10ab
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 45: 10, 11, 12, 16
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 20-27
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56

Fr. Chuck focuses our hearts and minds primarily on the Responsorial Psalm, Ps 132. He invites us to meditate on the refrain, which speaks of the Lord's "ark of holiness," the sacred wooden chest containing the 10 Commandments, above which God's divine presence would dwell. Speaking more generally of the symbolic, poetic, imagery of God dwelling in the Ark, Fr. Chuck explains that some Christians take it as a prophetic symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she bore Christ within her womb. Further, he invites us to seek Mary's intercession that by God's grace we, too, can grow into our identity as "arks of God's holiness" giving ourselves over to Jesus Christ actively dwelling in us.

Catholic Mass readings for the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 14, 2025

First Reading: 1 Chronicles 15: 3-4, 15-16; 16: 1-2
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 132: 6-7, 9-10, 13-14
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 54b-57
Gospel: Luke 11: 27-28

Do you find the meaning of faith sometimes to be too big and unreachable a concept? Father Chuck helps break it down for us with an exploration of today's second reading. Let us reflect on these "4 facets of faith"—hearing God's call and obeying it, seeking God's kingdom, receiving God's gifts, and offering them back to God for the good of others. The idea for these "4 facets" arose from Fr. Chuck hearing the Formed Daily Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Dr. Tim Gray, President of the Augustine Institute (http://formed.org; http://augustineinstitute.org); thanks, Dr. Gray!

Catholic Mass readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 10, 2025

First Reading: Wisdom 18: 6-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33: 1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Second Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19 or 11: 1-2, 8-12
Alleluia: Matthew 24: 42a, 44
Gospel: Luke 12: 32-48

Did you know that St. Paul's letters were written before the gospels of the New Testament? Paul's message to the Colossians is just as applicable today as it was in the first century. He guides them to give up their divisions and put on the love of Christ. Let us pray for the word of Christ to dwell in us so we can put aside the vanities that divide us.

Note: Father Chuck precedes today's homily with some interesting follow-up to last week's homily.

Catholic Mass readings for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 3, 2025

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1: 2; 2: 21-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-5, 9-11
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 3
Gospel: Luke 12: 13-21

Why doesn't Jesus feel sorry for Martha in today's gospel reading, who is working so hard all by herself? This is another example from the scriptures of Jesus giving us, not what we want, but what we need. While there may be many things to get done, let us be open to the voice of God, and always put God in first place.

Catholic Mass readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 20, 2025

First Reading: Genesis 18: 1-10a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 15: 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5
Second Reading: Colossians 1: 24-28
Alleluia: Luke 8: 15
Gospel: Luke 10: 38-42

Do you identify with the Good Samaritan or with the robbery victim in today's gospel reading? Jesus shows us that He can be both, just as we can sometimes be a helper and sometimes need help. We have the opportunity to be Good Samaritans to one another by joining one of our new small faith and friendship groups, to help one another in our faith journey. Please see today's bulletin for more information and join us!

Catholic Mass readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary time, July 13, 2025

Deuteronomy 30: 10-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 69: 14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 or Psalms 19: 8, 9, 10, 11
Second Reading: Colossians 1: 15-20
Alleluia: John 6: 63c, 68c
Gospel: Luke 10: 25-37