16.3K
Downloads
842
Episodes
Homilies from Saint Bernadette Catholic Church, Prospect, KY
Episodes
Saturday May 12, 2018
Monday May 07, 2018
Monday May 07, 2018
Wednesday May 02, 2018
Wednesday May 02, 2018
Monday Apr 23, 2018
Monday Apr 23, 2018
4th Sun Easter-B’18
“Its Personal”
April 22, 2018
When it comes to faith, it’s personal (not private, but personal). Today’s scripture had me thinking back to the beginning of this whole priesthood adventure… It actually started with my High School Senior retreat… [Tell story of being “hugged” by God; confirmed with Grandpa’s prayer.]
It was personal, even though I didn’t yet understand it.
I remember then “hearing” my calling from God… [Tell UK story].
Hearing my calling from God was exciting, scary, full of potential, and intimate all at the same time. It was personal.
You may remember my “butterfly” story where at a pivotal juncture in my discernment to become a priest God spoke to me through butterflies… now let me tell you about my diaconal retreat I took a few years later [Tell story of looking for another sign (and a deer) but not finding one. I then realize that Jesus will get to me through my ministry to the Church. And then as I was driving away from Mt. St. Francis a whole herd of deer ran past!] It was personal.
Now, after all these years of serving the Church as a priest, (especially given the administrative red tape, complaint letters, and the like) I can forget that it has all grown out of a personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, our scripture is clear, if we are going to be an intentional disciple then we must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Peter and John (the two who first went into the empty tomb that Easter morning) both testify in their respective writings that in Jesus Christ we are God’s children now, and there is no salvation in anyone else. Salvation is personal because it is linked to knowing Jesus, and as our Gospel teaches, its personal for Jesus too, for he knows each of us.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd that knows his sheep; lays down his life for his sheep. His is an unconditional love, a healthy love that never gives up on the other. A love that calls the other to become the best they can become. And because we are children of God within whom the Light of Christ shines, we too can love like Jesus.
Some moments of imitating Jesus’ love are clearer than others. Such as when a couple in love say, “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” Through the Sacrament of Marriage we can love like Jesus. Or when men becoming deacons for a life of service to the Church take hold of the Gospel Book and promise to, “Believe what I read; Teach what I believe; and Practice what I teach.” Through the Sacrament of Ordination we can love like Jesus.
We are capable by God’s design of loving Jesus deeply and loving others through this love. Yet, as in any real relationship, it can be too easy to come up short. We can twist our relationship with Jesus into something unhealthy. For instance, I can turn Jesus into a possession, jealously demanding that he leave all others behind and love only me… just “me and Jesus” and nobody else. Or I can take my personal relationship with Jesus for granted, ignoring Jesus only to relegate him to a “later” time when I am less busy with other things. Or I can also make my relationship with Jesus all about me with a one-sided, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, attitude. In these ways and more I can twist up my relationship Jesus into something less than healthy.
We are capable of great love, but we need help. Here’s the good news, Jesus will not twist it up. From his side he will keep it healthy. He remains the Good Shepherd who through the Church calls each of us to become the best version of ourself. This is why we are here after all, so we can tune ourselves to the beautiful rhythm which is Jesus’ love; so we can learn to recognize the Shepherd’s voice and draw close. Make it personal, ask Jesus what is his will for you, and then be prepared… it’s personal to him too!
Monday Apr 16, 2018
Monday Apr 16, 2018
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
Monday Apr 09, 2018
Monday Apr 09, 2018
2nd Sun Easter - B’18
“Yes, You Can Start Again”
(Tenth Anniversary of Saint Bernadette Parish)
Did anyone catch last Sunday’s live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar? It inspired me to get out my old soundtrack. Listen to this snippet from track 14, I think it captures what we are about today…
Divine Mercy Sunday’s message is this: Yes! You can start again!
The Risen Jesus Christ entrusts His Light to us, his followers. Jesus trusts us; our discipleship task is to trust him in return.
You see, the path of a disciple is not really a matter of how far will you go for Jesus, but how deep. Faith is something that deepens, and the goal of deep faith is trust in Jesus. Do you trust Jesus? I mean REALLY trust Jesus?
God’s best tools for helping us get to a place of deep trust are the two staples of any disciple’s life: Blessings and Crosses. Blessings deepen trust as our gratitude to God grows. Crosses deepen trust as our reliance on God grows. Blessings and Crosses are the narrow road of the disciple.
Yet, it is incredibly easy to step off the path, to lose our way. Blessings, if received in the wrong way, can all too readily be twisted into a sense of entitlement in our hearts; even a belief that we don’t need God. Crosses, if received in the wrong way, can take us to a place of despair, even a doubt that God loves us or even exists.
Perhaps you find yourself in such a place today. If so, then hear our Divine Mercy Gospel… You can start again!
This weekend our St. Bernadette parish celebrates its tenth anniversary. Our parish is a collective testament to starting over. Ten years ago, two struggling parishes facing multiple challenges, both closed so as to create a new beginning; to have a fresh start. And boy, have we done well!
We began with only 827 households, and now we have 2047 (the largest in the Archdiocese)! In ten years we have grown from 2509 souls to 6432 souls (and we are still growing)!
30% of all the funds we gather as a parish are given away to worthy causes and missions.
Yet, we have vibrant ministries, powerful liturgies, and intentional formation all done on our new campus - the debt for which we are responsibly and aggressively tackling.
Collectively we of St. Bernadette are bearing Christ’s entrusted Light well, and what we have done together you can do individually. You can deepen your trust in the Lord.
This Wednesday for 24 hours the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration right here on our altar. Nine hours of confessions will be offered. Come experience Jesus’ mercy and start again.
On Monday, April 16th (the Feast of St. Bernadette) we will enjoy a parish mission where we will explore God’s hope for each of us… a new beginning of partnership with Jesus.
On Monday, April 30th (summoned by Archbishop Kurtz) we will gather to explore the future to which the Holy Spirit inspires us.
All are designed to move us to a deeper place of trust in Jesus, for God wants us to trust Him…
TRUST that Jesus has risen from the dead…
TRUST that Jesus forgives us our betrayals and doubts…
TRUST that Jesus remains at our side providing, nourishing, nudging, guiding, saving.
Yes, you can start again and with deep faith (the mountain-moving kind) get to a place where with your whole heart, mind, strength, and soul declare: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!