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Fourth Sunday of Easter

Sat, 10 May 2025 00:15:35 GMT

Third Sunday of Easter

Sat, 03 May 2025 21:33:19 GMT

Easter

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 23:22:46 GMT

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:00:10 GMT

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:14:17 GMT

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:27:48 GMT

Third Sunday of Lent

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:04:25 GMT

First Sunday of Lent

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:32:58 GMT

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:25:40 GMT

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:52:12 GMT

Jesus Gives a Warning to be Self-LESS!

From A Grateful Heart ……………………………….

And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same!
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies

and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;

(Luke 5:4-8)

Jesus was a radical – and still is!

In this week’s readings from Luke in Chapter 6: Jesus asks us to do the seemingly Impossible!

- Love your enemies

- Be good to haters

- Bless those who bully you

- Give to anyone who asks

- Lend without conditions

- Stop judging others

The rationale Jesus gives us is that God did all these things for us and we are to imitate him if we are to deserve to bear the name of Christian.

To the casual listener this teaching of Jesus is charity and mercy on a heroic scale! For the Christian it is a bottom line!

There is no reward for doing good! It is expected! Heaven can not be earned or merited. It was won for us in the redemptive act of Jesus in His Death and Resurrection from the dead! It is a free gift!

The redemption Christ offers his creation (that would be you and me!) is not rewarded but given. Only one who is ungrateful would not offer a thanksgiving response of obedience to His commands.

That is why we need to be attentive and participate at Mass. We are feed with the very words of Christ and nourished by his body and blood. Now, given that strength, our body and soul are capable of great acts of witness and saving assistance to everyone we meet. We have a chance to change the direction of the world! There is already too much anger and evil to destroy the world. God made us for happiness and peace. We have a job to do! To spread the Love of God. Not, a boast of selfish pride but, an act of selfless care for others good. DO GOOD!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

2025 – The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 23

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:55:37 GMT

Jesus Gives a Warning to the Self -Righteous

From A Grateful Heart ……………………………….

“But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your consolation.

But woe to you who are filled now,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will grieve and weep.

Woe to you when all speak well of you,

for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

(Luke 5:4-8)

This year we are in one of the three cycles of Gospel reading in the liturgical changes made at Vatican II; they are A.- Mathew, B.-Mark, and C.-Luke.

This year we are in “Year C” – so. We hear the reading from Luke’s Gospel.

In Luke 6: 20-26, this weekend, we hear Jesus preach a set of Beatitudes on the Plane (flat ground). Then, in “Year A” (next year) we will hear from Matthew’s Gospel – “The Sermon on the Mount”, Matthew 5: 3-10.

The difference and similarities are worth noting since Jesus meant both of them and it is good that we get to hear both as well since they don’t duplicate or contradict each other. Together they give us a great insight to living out the will of God – which we all seek to do!

This is the definition of “Ordinary Time” – a time to hear God speak to us through his WORD, Jesus!

I hear it all the time; “How can I do God’s will for me?”

The will of God is simple as to be available to the wise and the simple. Jesus does not talk to us in theological language or in twisted riddles. Here in these two “sermons” Jesus is straight forward in commending and consoling those that seek to be humble, simple, honest and merciful to everyone on a daily basis with solid prayer and petitioning to Him in prayer.

When Jesus speaks about the “poor, the hungry and the insulted” we might be tempted to think of human needs and actions. However, Jesus is going deeper – always deeper! He talks about the life of our soul, not just the body! After all, grace (God’s strength) comes to us in the soul for our benefit to be used in action by the body! The desire to “LOVE ONE ANOTHER” is an impossible task without the grace of God’s assisting love, mercy and consolation in all we do!

Let us listen this week and next week on the teaching of Jesus on how to act in His grace to love.

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

2025 – The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 16

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 19:36:35 GMT

Jesus pulls in a great number of ________.

The Mass is where we receive the instructions to serve God (The Scripture Readings) and then are fed the

source of our strength (The Eucharist) to carry God’s presence into the world.

Do we live our Christianity INTENTIONALLY ? That means: Do we attend the Mass by participating – listening – and absorbing the teaching? Only then are we fed the Word of God and fed His Body.

Jesus is preaching to the many followers when this happens. Could you see yourself in the crowd?

Then, when Jesus shows his power to Simon and they pull in a huge number of fish that were not

there before Jesus had arrived! Now Simon confesses his unworthiness to Jesus and is then,

challenged to - “Follow Me, and I will make you a Great Fisher of Men!” The story of God’s forming of

his Church has begun by the assembling of the first leaders (bishops of the Church) – the Apostles.

What we do in going to Mass is exactly this Gospel. Jesus calls us, shows us His power and then He challenges us to gather others to Him - in the way we live (“Love one another”).

However, all this takes Faith that Jesus has the power to offer Salvation through US – The Church!

Do we first – Believe? Then Go Intentionally to Mass? Then, live out the grace of the Gospel and the Eucharist in the Love of God for others?

To see the mission of Christianity is to be a Christian in living out your calling to love!

Give it a try! It isn’t you doing the saving, after all. Jesus works through those who obey Him!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 19:21:36 GMT

God came to us in Jesus Christ - as Lord and Savior

Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord! (Psalm 24:7)

This weekend we celebrate Jesus being presented to God in the Temple as the son of Mary and Joseph.

Yet – because Jesus is God – “wrapped in human flesh” – we see the prophesy of Malachi (above) fulfilled! This prophecy come from 445 B.C. That is five centuries before the birth of Jesus the Christ!

God fulfills the words of the prophecies about Him! Here we can see that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament (The Old Covenant).

- God made a Covenant with Abraham and Jacob (called Israel).

- Jesus is God and Man

- Jesus made a Covenant with Abraham and Jacob (called Israel).

- Therefore, God is fulfilling His Covenant in Luke’s Gospel – in Jesus the Christ.

- Jesus is God’s Covenant fulfilled

- Then Jesus upgrades (or makes New) the Covenant with a NEW COVENANT in the New Testament

We get so used to the words “covenant” and “testament” that we forget that one is the agreement and the other is the written record of the agreement. The Law and The Testament.

Whether we are reading the old or new part of the BOBLE, they both are God speaking to us whether in the flesh or not. The flesh of Jesus is the flesh of all humanity and the presentation is God coming into His Temple and being Presented to The World.

God’s Promise Has Come!

“The LORD said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: When a woman has a boy child, she shall be unclean* for seven days, on the eighth day, after the circumcision, she shall spend thirty-three days in a state of blood purity; to touch nothing sacred nor enter the Temple. If she gives birth to a girl, fourteen days she shall be as unclean, and after sixty-six days more, in a state of blood purity.” (Leviticus 12: 1-5)

The Law of Moses (in the Book of Leviticus) was part of the TORAH that judged when a woman was ritually pure enough after giving birth. Birth is messy and full of blood residue that was considered impure and thus, unholy. The “Purification Period” was spelled out in the Law of Moses to be observed for the birth of a boy or a girl.

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 21:52:33 GMT

At Mass – Are the Readings important?

The Mass is so important that it has had the same elements of worship that have been practiced since the beginning of the Old Testament. In our first reading from the Prophet Nehemiah, who was a Governor and a High Priest, in addition to being a Prophet, we see that the many of the same ways of worship are present as we worship today!

- 1. The people gather

- 2. A platform is erected (an altar)

- 3. The priests arrive in ceremony (signing of psalms)

- 4. The Book of The Law (the Torah Scrolls) are held up!

- 5. The scrolls are opened and the people fall in adoration at the words of God!

We don’t exactly fall down and worship, but we do stand and sing – with Alleluias!

The reverence paid to the Reading of Scriptures by the people of Ezra’s time should inform us of the great privileges we have today to read the very words of Jesus (God in the flesh). The people of the Old Testament hoped for God’s Spirit to rest on them. We not only hope – but are filled with God’s Spirit (The Holy Spirit) through the sacrament of baptism and the Holy Eucharist!

If we truly realized that we hold the Body of Our God within us – we too would fall down to worship this great God that will give us forgiveness and eternal bliss in heaven!

During Ordinary Time, it is our opportunity to consider the life of a believer in Christ. Then, as a community of believers, we can let all the world know of this great gift of the Eucharist by offering charity and peace to everyone we meet.

I wish each of you Peace!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:00:54 GMT

What is The Mass – Why is it important?

The Mass is so important that it may be the singularly most important thing you do in your life. And we can do it every day, if possible to our schedule.

THE TEACHING MASS for this weekend is important because – this question needs to be understood and the Mass is so mis-understood, that today churches are not full every weekend!

Can a fish life without water?

Can a bird live without air?

Can a person bring about their own birth? (does that sound strange?)

If you know that God is The Creator and he created you – OUT OF LOVE, then you should see the Mass as very necessary to continue in life!

The Mass is WORSHIP, PETITION, and CONVERSION all within one hour of our time.

These aspects of life come from the instructions God gives us on how to be perfect and eternal.

1) WORSHIP: Moses was given the 10 Commandments to form a perfect society.

#3 says that we need to worship (THE MASS) God on the Sabbath (That would be Sunday)

2) PETITION: We have needs that can’t be fulfilled without God’s help.

- Things like: ending conflicts, helping the sick, asking for patience, wanting to be holy

3) CONVERSION: This happens when we admit our sin (offenses against each other). Basically, by acting contrary to the 10 Commandments, against honesty, charity, purity and fidelity.

- Forgiveness comes not from asking God in private but, by asking God in community! Our nature is NOT a private nature- we are meant to live in a community, a family or a “church” (as a people of God).

THE EUCHRIST – “Is the source and summit of the Christian Life” (Lumen Gentium #11 & CCC #1327)

The body and blood of God are given to us for the three reasons and bodily needs I just mentioned!

We need the Eucharist to live our lives! (See: John 6:26-57 )

YOU NEED JESUS TO LIVE in any state of goodness or holiness. You were just made that way!

I wish each of you Peace!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

January 12, 2025 -The Baptism of the Lord

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:22:20 GMT

What have you done for me Lately?

Jesus is Baptized in the Jordan to join us in all the suffering that humanity endures. For the love of God is just that – Joining in our daily struggles, good and bad.

In being Baptized Jesus becomes the One Sent of God (not from God, but of God). God takes on the fullness of the human condition. “He Saves”, is the meaning of Jesus name. God has given us the gift of life. And with that life come many gifts:

- A mind. We are capable of reason and wonder, discovery and development. Exploring and discovery are part of using our minds. Seeing with the eyes of Faith is part of Reason!

- A Heart. We are capable of sympathy and compassion, anger and judgement.

- A Body. We are capable of great strength and endurance to build and assist others.

- A Family. We learn to be companions and to care for ourselves and others. We can build communities that protect and nurture, teach and support.

- A World. God gives us food and medicine in great possibilities. Water, sky, planets and weather. The animals and plants that add beauty, companions and even food. Raw materials to invent and build machines, cities, homes and tools of all kind. Color and diversity in humankind and natural elements.

All we are asked, is to listen to and acknowledge the God in our midst, that we might believe and learn from Him on how to use all the gifts he has given us.

Since Jesus is the Almighty God and not just “part” of God – we see with the eyes of Faith that the Creator has taken our flesh to be closer to us in helping “save us” from an eternal death of sin!

Jesus IS still here on Earth and in Heaven to keep us safe – If we follow Him!

So, - What have you done to follow Him, lately?

The 10 Commandments give a beginning!

o Have you gone to Mass every week? (# 3)

o Have you prayed daily? (# 1)

o Have you not gossiped or slandered? (# 8)

o Have been a faithful spouse? (# 6 & 9)

o Have met your commitments? (# 8)

o Have you been satisfied with what you can afford? (# 10)

o Have you avoided vengeance or hate” (# 5)

o Have you respected authority and obeyed laws and social courtesies? (# 4)

There and many other ways to be a follower and lover of the God whose example you would be following. You can build up the Church (contribute and volunteer). You can participate in neighborhood enrichment. You can offer charitable actions as opportunities present themselves.

In other words? What have you done for Jesus lately?

I wish each of you Peace!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

January 5, 2025 -The Epiphany of the Lord

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 14:18:23 GMT

St. Paul Opens the Redemption of Israel - to Gentiles!

YES! That is right. St. Paul has realized that the whole appearance of the Divine Messiah and Savior – Jesus the Christ – is NOT just for the “Redemption of Israel”, but it is the plan of God to save the whole human race in every age.

Now, Paul is a Jew and an educated pharisee. He knows the revelations of the prophets and the teachings of God’s desire to save Israel, as it is presented in the Old Testament (“The Scriptures” of his time).

Jesus preached a salvation and rose from the dead to save ALL flesh, that would be you and me. St. Paul would call any believer who is not a Jew – a Gentile. Yeah, that would be you and me, the non-Jewish believers! This is a Great Revelation. It is thinking way beyond the box of the small world where the Jewish Religious Leadership held and that is why they never understood Jesus and even condemned his since he opposed a closed salvation (one only for Israel).

A Savior for all the world. A savior for those destined for eternal life. A savior who looks beyond the threats to our mortal existence and one who came to protect us from an immortal perdition!

St. Paul sees us as the first Christians as the first generation of THE NEW Covenant. The new relationship with a God who is close to us, looks like us, knows our struggles, loves us and has a human face like us! Jesus says: “I no longer call you slaves (in obedience to God - Old Covenant), I call you friends (in love of doing the will of God - New Covenant in his blood!)

We are called to be “copartners. That means disciples, preachers, lovers, who, call others to join us in prayer to Jesus – the Son of God!

That is a working mission of bringing the salvation, that was won for us, to everyone in our lives by loving as HE loves US!

I wish each of you Peace!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

December 29, 2024 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 19:02:55 GMT

Since Jesus is God, Why did He need to obey His parents?

The Commands of God known to Mary and Joseph would have been central to any Jew (or Hebrew) of their time. In the Bible scriptures, Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5 would have been taught to Jesus in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah, which was why they were at the Temple.

Since, a boy’s Bar Mitzvah makes him a MAN and a member of the Men at prayer in Israelite society, Jesus would not need to obey his mother. However, as God, Jesus needs to show the example of the commandments - which He gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai (or Mt. Horeb).

Jesus, as a human, obeys the 10 Commandments. As God, Jesus gave the 10 Commandments to Moses and his descendants. We can see that the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family show us how even Jesus obeys the 4 ^th of the Commandments: “Obey your Father & Mother”.

Families are the basis of society and where we learn the first rules of living in society. Remember, society is a creation of God. He gives us the basic instructions for living together in these ten basic Commands – The Ten Commandments.

1. I am God – you shall have No others 6. You must not commit adultery

2. You must honor My Holy Name always 7. Do Not steal or Defraud

3. You must Worship me on each Weekend 8. Do Not give false witness/Deceive

4. You must honor your Father & Mother 9. Do Not covet another’s wife

5. You must not kill or destroy another 10. Do not covet another’s processions

The listing comes from the ancient Greek and St. Augustine in 390 AD.

Jesus obeyed the Commandments that He gave Moses because they are the basics of society’s good ordering. To honor one’s parents (assuming they are good parents) is to learn obedience to AUTHORITY, law and social curtesy. Educate, law and order and good manners all begin with the obedience that is learned from the 4 ^th Commandment. The same extension of modeling a good society can be understood in the living out of every commandment.

God gives us life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when we recognize Him in the very fabric of society and the pilgrimage to eternal life as part of this life’s lessons.

I wish each of you Peace!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

December 22, 2024 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 01:54:35 GMT

What Do you want for Christmas?

Every year we would ask our Dad (who was very hard to buy for), “What do you want for Christmas?” He would always and predictably say: “World Peace!”, to which we would say: “Sorry, Dad, too expensive!” He would agree.

So, let me ask each of you: “What do you want for Christmas?”

Pray for Peace and then work for it as well!

Jesus greeted his disciples with a peace they could get nowhere else.

“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace . In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33)

Peace takes work. The work of understanding; the work of listening; the work of humility and meekness; the work of forgiveness. Peace takes work!

The many presents we will give and receive this Christmas can not equal the gift of PEACE. Jesus promises us peace if we listen to his teaching as good advice and then follow it. That takes work!

So, it may be too late for each of us to learn how to give that gift this year. However, we could make a commitment to develop the courage and patience to offer that kind of peace next year. There is a year to prepare and with the help of Christ it can be done.

Remember that this year, from Christmas to Christmas, Pope Francis has declared a HOLY YEAR. This year can be the holiest of all if we offer each other the gift of PEACE next year.

I wish each of you Peace!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

December 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:46:55 GMT

JESUS IS THE REASON TO REJOICE!

St. Faustina tells us that Jesus guided us to feel the love and mercy of His Sacred Heart. The world was to fall into WWII with the bombing of her country, Poland, in 1939. The world needed hope and Jesus had St. Faustina commission a painting of her vision of Jesus. The world needed to here of God’s presence and to cling to a hope that could assure them of Hid protection.

“Jesus, I trust in you!”

This signature on the painted image of Jesus can be an assurance to us today. As we see many conflicts and even horrors on our city streets. The presence of Christ’s mercy and love of those that hope can change the world. JOY!

The Third Sunday of our Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday” meaning JOY.

Jesus, loving presence is a reason for JOY! Life gives us many disappointments and “influencers” get rich selling troubles. The world seeks a truth of comfort and peace. The joy we desire is eternally awaiting us in heaven. But heaven is meant to be realized on Earth . Does that sound “Pollyanna”(overly optimistic)?

Jesus sent out 72 disciples to every town he intended to visit with the announcement: “say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you . (Luke 10:9)”

God is here and is near! We can receive Him daily in the Eucharist or speak with Him in prayer. Heaven may be where Joy lives – but our lives need to communicate that joy of his presence as surely as he commissioned the 72 disciples that went to prepare His entrance to the towns He visited.

Do you believe that when Jesus speaks to us in the scriptures that those words can live today. Jesus is not a past event! He is a present reality – He is/has: “Come near to you”

WE need to feel that nearness and that assurance of Jesus’ loving call which guided the painted image for St. Faustina to give us a vision of his merciful presence. Rejoice, I say it again, Rejoice!

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

December 8, 2024 - Second Sunday of Advent

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 23:37:23 GMT

What is good about waiting?

When I was a kid, my dad would sometimes need to travel to the other courts in Iowa to hear cases as a District Court Judge. We enjoyed the times he was gone for two reasons, First, Dad was a “meat and potatoes” man and we didn’t get much variety at dinner. Mom learned to make potatoes in almost every conceivable way to bring some variety to the table. Second, dad would always bring home some gift for us from the places he visited. That was what we anxiously waited for! Because my Dad we very clever and would always surprise us with something that brought new wonder into the sometimes-mundane life of I kid.

That said – wonder is worth the wait!

What IS “wonder”?

Good question!

Wonder is the discovery of something new, something hoped for or something amazing!

The amazing, new and hoped for gift of ADVENT is the birth of God in human flesh. The promise of eternal life. The hope and promised fulfillment of personal peace and joy for an eternity. There no store, shop or bazaar where these gifts can be acquired! They are the gift of God given freely and lovingly by a creator that gives them with as much glee as any present ever received on Christmas day!

That kind of gift is not self-evident. It needs time to realize, understand and contemplate the WONDER of an eternal gift. God wraps this gift in swaddling clothes and lays it in a manger.

The way we prepare now will determine how much wonder this gift will bring to you on December 25th. It is a deep and penetrating feeling that I always experienced at Midnight Mass.

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

December 1, 2024 - First Sunday of Advent

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 22:30:16 GMT

Jesus IS THE PROMISE OF GOD!

Jesus comes from the Father to aid us in understanding the true love he has for us.

Like any Father, God cares when we feel lost and even alone.

Jesus’ love is the direct expression of the Father’s love for us,

This week’s Gospel describes the end times of our world. Not to scare us - but to prepare us for a reality we could never imagine out of logic and scientific discovery. Real – Real and it’s coming!

So, we make choices with every action, every day. Do we make those choices informed of the truths Jesus has given us though the Word of the Father? Those are the choices to obey Jesus. The other choices are in opposition to The Word of God made flesh, for our instructions.

That is why St. Paul uses the word “instructions” to describe the Gospel message. These aren’t SUGGESTIONS!

Advent is then, a time to prepare! We get an annual chance to reflect on the choices we make in every one of our Earthly decisions. Did we use the knowledge God gave us (the Scriptures) or did we ignore them as mere literature? OUR ETERNAL LIFE DEPENDS ON THOSE CHOICES!

Theologically, these acts of our free will are called – a “preferential option” – we are given the options to obey or ignore the teachings of Christ. As a creation of God, our soul marks these options (perhaps we can say as RED or BLUE?). At the end of time, when God looks at the color of the choices we have made – will he see mostly RED or mostly BLUE? We always had a choice to decide, you know. If we are condemned – it will because of our choices – not because God is against us. Jesus tells of God LOVE for us as if The Father “dotes” on us!

So, let us self-impose some cleansing penance of fasting or prayer that will repair any of those poor decisions we have made and confessed in the confessional. God forgets the sins we confess. However, the damage those sins do still effects the body of Christ (as we are members, with all the baptized, of His body).

Have a great ADVENT TIME – let it prepare us to see the miracle of Christmas and not just the greed of the season.

May Our Risen Savior Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

November 24th, 2024 - The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:12:34 GMT

Do we even know what a KING is?

England still has a monarchy with King Charles III. The last King Charles was in 1660 until 1685 when the country of England still had divisions that had Kings of Scotland, England and Ireland that caused revolutions between territories and religions of Catholics, Anglicans and Scottish Presbyterian parliament government forms. The kingdom and the ruling efforts were a mess from about 1640 to 1685, that included at Republic of England (without a king, from 1659 to1670) when King Charles II died.

Being King can get messy!

However, Christ the King is a king of an eternity! That eternity is the only reality that will be for all those created in the flesh. For God the Father rules a Kingdom of Peace, Love and Fellowship that needs not parliament or houses of governance. It is a Kingdom the gives freedom not dominance because everyone is loved and important. All needs are met eternally. There is no need of worry or want! This is not the way Heaven works – Thank God!

Jesus is the Son of that loving Father and has told us of the Kingdom which he brings to Earth – though we can only see its totality when time dissolves.

How do we prepare to live an eternal life?

Can we be more aware of ALL that Jesus has already told us?

OUR King is King of our hearts as an Eternal and Loving King!

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

November 17th, 2024 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 22:22:18 GMT

Lord, When will the end Come?

The roof on the church has been a major concern of mine. I ask God all the time: When will it get fixed?” There are so many parts to that answer. First three contractor’s bids need to be received in writing. Next, we need to decide which contractor is the best suited to understand and solve our roofing problems. Then, a “proxy” proposal needs to be submitted to the Archdiocese for approval to spend the large amount of money (when a projects cost might exceed a set percentage limit of our annual revenue). Then, the contractor gets a signed bid proposal and schedules the work to be done by his work crews.

All that takes time and winter is coming! Lord, when will the end come?

That is my prayer. It could be the prayer in your household for many reasons too! A new baby, a growing adolescent, a change of jobs, an ailing relative’s final days or a house project.

The exact time can not be planned to our satisfaction. Well, the end of time effects everyone and you can imagine that a loving God would have a hard time deciding the right time to bring us all home for all eternity – Right?

Some things can’t be planned but happen because they are inevitable! The problem we have with that is – TRUST! OH, there is that word again! A person can trust someone they know is a loving friend. That takes a relationship. Such a close relationship is what God wants with us. Perhaps, God gives us these many worries to prod us into a closer and closer relationship with him. For the more we know and acknowledge Him, the more we can trust and wait with him.

All these things eventually happen and the worry we invest in them could be forsaken for a greater trust in God – for He loves us and wants the best for us!

Trust God now; seek a relationship with Him now that will last an eternity.

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

November 10th, 2024 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:08:17 GMT

Do we give all to god or just the leftovers?

“What am I willing to give to the Lord?

The disciples witness the sacrifice of a poor widow. Without a man to provide for her, the culture in Jesus time had NO safety net to provide for widows or orphans. They simply starved or went begging.

God provides for us and challenges us to help us grow in virtuous living. That is the kind of living where we choice our own disciplinary self-imposed deeds. In the past we may have fasted or gone to extra Masses out of the threat of “going to Hell”. Today (since Vatican II) the Church asks us to act in the same way “out of love for God” – not out of a selfish desire to avoid Hell! (See the difference?)

The gift of support for the Church is often seen as charity – Today. When – support of our Parish – is an obligation to help provide the Eucharist and its continuity in our neighborhood. It is also the 1 ^st “Precept of the Catholic Church” (from The Catechism – CCC #2041-2043).

The five precepts are:

1. Attend Mass on Weekends and Holy Days of Obligation

2. Confess your sins a least once a year (Reconciliation)

3. Receive the Eucharist at least once a year at Easter (“Easter Duty”)

4. Observe fasting and abstinence (and no food or drink one hour before Mass)

5. Christian duty to provide for the material needs of the Church (Parish tithing)

Combined with THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, – the willful avoidance of these duties are grave matters, or mortal sins! They are taught as a “minimum” requirement of Catholic obedience.

When was the last time you every heard of these duties established by Pope Pius X in his Catechism of 1905? This is the sort list that has been Church teaching (requirements) since Pope Celestine in 1439

Today, we can see how we may be reduced to “catholic light” as compared to the rigors of the faithful in past generations around the time of the Council of Trent (1545-1563)! …. And St. Pope John Paul II in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992, #2041-2043.

What are we willing to give to the Lord? Feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. (Matthew 25:35-36)

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

November 3rd, 2024 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:17:53 GMT

Lord, how can follow you?

Today, when an agreement is made - the word of one to another does not have the binding force it did when Moses and Jesus made the statement above! (Jesus, repeats Moses in the Gospel today!)

To do anything with our whole being is to abandon our self into fully carrying out what was agreed.

The binding force of a “hand-shake”; the commitment of “I Will”; or the simple agreement spoke between strangers. These agreements need to be in writing to have binding force today. Maybe even lawyers or contracts are required to bind each person to the agreement.

Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

(Matt. 5:37)

The “FEAR” that is meant, is not the dreading that the word means today but, a sort of wonderous “AWE” of awareness without the knowledge of understanding. For GOD can be known without understanding because he makes us aware of him while we could never understand the totality of the eternal person or mind!

AND, notice the word “ENJOIN”. Here too is the sense of awe in being given the task to obey. This type of “given a task” is not a command – but good advice that if not followed will harm the person. The message is the instruction for successful living! Like an “operation manual” for the human condition. (God would know what is best for us to obtain eternal life!)

Matthew’s Gospel has Jesus repeat Moses’ teaching and adds that they summarize the teachings of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets. Then, Jesus adds that Love is the most important element for us to apply this teaching to God and our neighbors.

I think the greatest way we can serve God on a daily basis is to be honest, humble and caring. Integrity comes out of that when we agree to a task. The fact that we said “YES” is a bond that we need to honor with: with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Let our word be our guarantee! If we say it – we will do it when the deed needs to be done. No matter what, our Yes means YES and if we need to say NO we honor that commitment too! It is rare person today that can be trusted to follow through on a simple agreement. Integrity and honest build a strong society. We need to build more trust in this world.

Christ has enjoined us to be true in word and deed!

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

October 27th, 2024 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:04:32 GMT

Lord, how can follow after Jesus?

Have you ever heard Jesus call you – OR – speak to you?

In the world we live in there are way too many distractions, noises and interruptions to hear Jesus.

The call to prayer is the call to hear God in your life.

Prayer is not just the use of formal prayers. Those, though good, are the words of someone else not the yours!

Prayer is first and most importantly a conversation. It is an intimate time to speak and listen to the transcendent presence of God – who is always with us. For, once you are baptized the spirit of God is you spirit! That is why the Mass always begins with recognizing that fact.

“The Lord be with you!” – “and with your spirit”

That very closeness of God should be a tug to draw you into prayer. Recall that Jesus is the very personification of LOVE (The Love of God the Father – reflected in the Son)

Jesus can and will answer the sincere prayers offered for the love of others wellbeing! Selfish prayers are acts of pride and if answered might do us more harm that the good God intends. Of course, we can pray for self when asking for peace, guidance, challenges to grow or hopes for future good.

Bartimaeus asks for sight. The desire to see is given by God and the lack of sight for Bartimaeus may be a metaphor for the society that does not pray (not listening to, or praying to – God). Jesus heals that error when we ask (pray) to let us hear him in our lives. Jesus loves us wants to guide us in life to return to be with him forever!

Prayer can be… your own thoughts and word to God,

Prayer can be… the rosary.

Prayer can be… a meditation on a scriptural thought.

Prayer can be… sitting silently listening, for God to speak

Prayer can be… helping someone in need (volunteering)

Prayer can be… hiking alone in nature, communing with God.

Prayer can be… participating at Mass (the prayer of the whole Church)

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

October 20th, 2024 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 17:11:08 GMT

Lord, how can I be a “slave” to everyone?

How can Jesus ask us to follow him if we are the slave? A slave loses all rights to freedom!

Doesn’t Jesus promise us freedom if we follow him?

These are not contradictions but, the conditions of discipleship. Because, a disciple is committed to doing the desires of the master. Isn’t that a condition of a slave? NO!

The No, is because Jesus asks us to act out of Love for One Another – NOT out of submission to a tyrant’s will. Jesus isn’t a tyrant but a lover of everyone. So, the slave part of Jesus comment is not to act out of obligation but out of genuine love. Since God IS Love ( 1 John 4:8 )

The desire to act out genuine concern for another is a result of virtuous living – a habit – a life lived in community. One does not care for people unknown to them; for causes maybe. But, to live in the common efforts of a community that seeks to improve the lives of others – is to be part of a joint effort – that is the work of THE CHURCH. A community of Jesus’ Disciples acting in the love of God.

This very definition is how Jesus lived as an example of what he meant when he said:

“… because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“… if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2b)

The good we do is only “good” if it is done through the grace of love Jesus freely gives us.

The LOVE of God is using the love we receive from Jesus (in the Eucharist) to act for good!

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

October 13th, 2024 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:07:13 GMT

Lord, What must I do?

1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Jesus is asked for guidance like a spiritual director. So, His answer is the same as He gave to Moses at Mount Sinai in the desert. (Yes, Jesus was there!) The Ten Commandments

Did you notice that Jesus only names 6 of those Commands? He recites them – not in order either - #5, #6, #7, #8, (He adds: Cheating!) and #4. The ones he missed are telling.

Jesus missed the first three commands to Love God, keep holy His Name and he Sabbath Day, and to avoid coveting another’s wife OR their possessions That would be the first three (about God) and the last two – on envy or coveting what doesn’t belong to you!

I submit that Jesus wants use to notice that small omission! Our relationship with God should be our most enviable (or proud – if you prefer) possession! Because, if we put our relationship with God as the first priority in life, all the other commandments will follow as normal behavior and not as virtuous actions. Jesus asked the young man to put God first in his priorities and the wealth he had got in the way. (Can you hear Jesus say: “You cannot serve two masters? – Matt. 6:24 or Lk 16:13 )

As we go through “Ordinary Time” it is time to be fed with the moral teachings of Jesus to be able to live out his ultimate command: “Love One Another!”

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

October 6th, 2024 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:59:40 GMT

How Should a Husband treat his Wife?

Here is where a celibate like me can get in a lot of trouble. So, I will let St. Paul’s words to the Ephesians begin the conversation. … (from: Ephesians 5:21-31)

Wives and Husbands be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. …

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her

to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water (baptism) and with the word, …

Therefore, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no man hates his own flesh, but rather, nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, …

“For this reason, a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife,

and the two shall become one flesh.”

The relationship of Marriage is one of responsibility for the other. As an Army General stands as sentinel to protect the President, the President is not subordinate to the general but, is protected by the officer. The General needs the government and all it provides for the same reason every citizen does. Those needs once protected can nourish and enrich the general. This is a mutual relationship; as the one who provides is important, the protector of that person is important. They work together with the other, each in their role in harmony – not competition!

The love that brings a man to pledge himself to a woman is because he needs her and she will bring him benefits of family and belonging. The man protects and provides in his way to sustain and grow that benefit. Children raised in the faith express the faith out of the love they experience in the family – where the mother nourishes, provides example and the father teaches and protects them because he needs them as he needs his own body.

So, Husbands love your wives – because you need them as you not only live out the promise you made but, because Christ has given you a role to grow the Church in each child born of love.

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

September 29th, 2024 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:28:53 GMT

How do we treat Christians who are outside the Church?

How good are any of us at following the teachings of Jesus?

Some may boast of their knowledge of Scripture. Some may recount all their many devotions to the saints. Some may be daily Mass attendees. Some may know all the regular feast days and solemnities of the Church Year.

Does that make them a good Catholic or a good Christian??

Many of our Protestant friends may do the same and read scripture daily. But, those are works of piety not works of love.

Works of love can only come from God’s grace (love) working within us! (1 Corinthians 13)

Jesus made it clear that obedience to love was obedience to Him and this action of love is what makes one a follower of Christ … or … Christians ! Good people aren’t necessarily good followers.

Now, we also know that only in the Catholic Church can we be obedient to the mandate of Christ to …. “eat his body and drink his blood” (John 6:53-56) Only in the Catholic Church is the command to “Do this in memory of me.” fulfilled. The action is Christ in the Eucharist, not that of the minister. The transformation of the bread and wine only happen through the power given to the Apostles – not just one who uses those words.

As a child, I said Mass, using the books and in Latin. Just because I said those words the items did not become the body & blood of Jesus. That takes the power of the “imposition of hands” passed down through the bishops, who are the successors to the original Apostles. This is called “Apostolic Succession of Bishops”. Our Protestant friends do not have this “Apostolic Succession of Bishops” to ordain their ministers. Therefore, the words they use are symbolic and not effective. It is hoped that all people will be Catholic someday. That was the dream of Jesus in forming the Church. Jesus never intended 45,000 different Christian denominations – as there are today!

Jesus prayed: “That ALL may be one!” (John 10:16)

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

September 22nd, 2024 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 16:28:53 GMT

Living in the Saving Work of Jesus

How good are any of us at waiting? They say the: “Good things are worth waiting for!” And at the same time, what is waited for should also cause us to prepare for – so, that when it does come, we can appreciate and benefit from it!

Our eventual union with God in Heaven could not be done by mortal flesh – human beings. We don’t have the nature to extend our lives beyond death and only by dying in our flesh could God’s Son give our human nature the ability to join in His life beyond death. I hope that makes sense!

The coming of God is BIG! The complexity of salvation depended on Jesus coming, instructing us and giving us a way to live in eternity. That method is Baptism and The Eucharist.

So, we can see that God needed to prepare the world for the coming of His Son in the flesh.

Salvation and Resurrection could only be the work of Jesus as God made flesh

For the last four weeks we have had the second readings from James Letter to the Jews outside of Palestine (“The Diaspora”). So, James becomes a “missionary” letter to instruct, warn and teach those newly converted from obedience to the Law of Moses to obedience to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

This shift in cultural religious praxis would be culture shattering and always in conflict with their upbringing if it wasn’t for the fact that Judaism, at the time of Jesus, had been a faith waiting to be completed. The Jews were rescued by God from slavery in Egypt (remember Joseph and Pharaoh) to a commitment, by circumcision, to worship of “The One God” (Yahweh). Then God sent prophets to speak for Him and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Moses, Jeremiah, Elijah and Zachariah all spoke of the coming and needed obedience to God (The Father of Israel).

The Salvation History we know from the Old Testament was the daily scriptures that prepared a people to recognize Jesus as the one that had been foretold by all those mentioned. Now James Letter reveals the complexity of living in the saving work of Jesus. God’s completed Plan for us!

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

September 15th, 2024 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:34:38 GMT

St. James was the first Bishop of the Church

When Jesus finished revealing the truth of God the Father, by his birth, teaching, death and Resurrection – the Church on Earth was the responsibility of the Apostles and the Holy Spirit!

The ritual life of the Apostles was the sacrifices of the Temple and the prayers of their tradition were the psalms and the scriptures (we would call it The Old Testament) . However, Jesus taught them “THE OUR FATHER” and a desire for mercy among the poor and the Gentiles (the pagans).

So, the early Church began and continued to be the Church we have today. Much like a mutual fund. (I can hear you say: “WHAT?”) Yes! I have a friend that put $2000 into a mutual fund in 1997 that he forgot about and looked at it this year to discover that the small amount of shares he bought was now worth $90,000. The Catholic Church has grown over 2000 years and developed ritual, rites and diversity that today there are:

The Eastern Catholic Churches, also called the “Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches”, are 24 Eastern

Christian autonomous ( sui iuris ) self-governing churches of the Catholic Church (including the Western, Roman Church), in full communion with the Pope in Rome.

Faith has grown in many directions – but, always guided by The Holy Spirit!

St. James preached from first-hand experience of hearing Jesus teach. Later, others repeated those stories as told by the original disciples and always by coming together (in synods) to compare and insure that the message of Jesus did not change. That need for unity of message is called “The Deposit of Faith”. The authority of the Church does not come from the Bible – but from the fidelity to Christ! The Church grew out of EUCHARIST and in obedience to the command of Jesus – “Do this in memory of Me!” (Luke 22:19)

The many books of the Bible compose a “CANON” of scripture that was not decided as all having been inspired by God until the Council Carthage in 419 AD. It took even longer for all the churches to agree and then came the Protestant Reformation where Luther took out 7 books from the Old Testament as not inspired by God. Forming the Canon of Scripture to form the BIBLE we have today is still a matter of discussion! So, the faith was never the matter of scripture – but, it is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Church formed around the EUCHARIST – not the Bible. Read John Ch. 6!

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS

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Fourth Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

Easter

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

First Sunday of Lent

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus Gives a Warning to be Self-LESS!

From A Grateful Heart ……………………………….

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus Gives a Warning to the Self -Righteous

From A Grateful Heart ……………………………….

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus pulls in a great number of ________.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

God came to us in Jesus Christ - as Lord and Savior

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

At Mass – Are the Readings important?

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

What is The Mass – Why is it important?

January 12, 2025 -The Baptism of the Lord

What have you done for me Lately?

January 5, 2025 -The Epiphany of the Lord

St. Paul Opens the Redemption of Israel - to Gentiles!

December 29, 2024 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Since Jesus is God, Why did He need to obey His parents?

December 22, 2024 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

What Do you want for Christmas?

December 15, 2024 - Third Sunday of Advent

JESUS IS THE REASON TO REJOICE!

December 8, 2024 - Second Sunday of Advent

What is good about waiting?

December 1, 2024 - First Sunday of Advent

Jesus IS THE PROMISE OF GOD!

November 24th, 2024 - The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Do we even know what a KING is?

November 17th, 2024 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord, When will the end Come?

November 10th, 2024 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Do we give all to god or just the leftovers?

November 3rd, 2024 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord, how can follow you?

October 27th, 2024 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord, how can follow after Jesus?

October 20th, 2024 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord, how can I be a “slave” to everyone?

October 13th, 2024 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord, What must I do?

1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

﻿

October 6th, 2024 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

How Should a Husband treat his Wife?

September 29th, 2024 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

How do we treat Christians who are outside the Church?

September 22nd, 2024 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Living in the Saving Work of Jesus

September 15th, 2024 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. James was the first Bishop of the Church