Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

PRI Reflections on Scripture | The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Gospel Luke 2:22-35 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Reflection In this week of readings, we're going to see a repeated pattern. Ordinary individuals, not people of the temple, not people of high learning, are manifesting to Mary and Joseph something so extraordinary about their son. Simeon represents the waiting, the long waiting of Israel for this moment, and he, as a symbol of faith, has always believed that the Messiah would come. He walks into the temple and encounters Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and knows somehow, deep inside of him, this is the one. It's a beautiful image of the way the Holy Spirit works in ordinary people, and how he affirms the promises that are unfolding daily in our life. Closing Prayer Father, make us attentive to those around us who carry perhaps a way of seeing that we don't see. Let us pay attention to the fact that you always seem to work with others, to be able to work with us. Help us to read the signs of those around us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

HOMILY • Feast of the Holy Family

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY Original Airdate: December 29, 2019 Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 | Colossians 3:12-21 | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Oh God, who pleased to give us the shining example of the holy family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life in the bonds of charity and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Gospel John 20:1a and 2-8 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. Reflection Yesterday, the scriptures reminded us of the cost of discipleship, and what we need to understand is when we go through pain and suffering, it is a transformation, not something to be frightened of. We need transition. We need evolution of consciousness. We need to grow. So the church focuses on this day on how it went with Jesus. The ultimate thing that he did was stand close to his father, revealing nothing but love and truth and he was rejected, he was murdered and he rose. It's a mystery of transformation. What seems like death, what seems like loss is just the opposite. It is new life. Closing Prayer Father, as we journey with you, as we invite you to live within us and resonate through us, give us the courage to know whatever setback that we encounter is not something negative, but something that draws us closer into who you are, and who we are, and how we are to work together. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

Gospel Matthew 10:17-22 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” Reflection I believe the church celebrates this feast of Saint Stephen immediately after we receive the good news of God's presence in the world, we listen to the very real image of evil. There is a power in the world that is whole opposed to who God is and who Jesus wants us to become. And yet we know that there is a way in which that work is essential. To not be afraid. To hold on to what you believe, even if it means the loss of your life. These are signs and wonders of the faith that God has given us to do the work of the Son of God, to bring his message of life and goodness to the world, despite whatever dangers there may be. Closing Prayer Father, we need to be realistic. We need to understand there is a spirit that is so opposed to who we become. When God enters into us and we resonate and share his wisdom, his power, his healing, his love. Keep us strong, keep us dedicated to this work no matter what the cost. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

PRI Reflections on Scripture | The Nativity of the Lord

Gospel John 1:1-5, 9-14     In the beginning was the Word,         and the Word was with God,         and the Word was God.     He was in the beginning with God.      All things came to be through him,         and without him nothing came to be.     What came to be through him was life,         and this life was the light of the human race;     the light shines in the darkness,         and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.     He was in the world,         and the world came to be through him,         but the world did not know him.     He came to what was his own,         but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,  to those who believe in his name,  who were born not by natural generation  nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision  but of God.     And the Word became flesh         and made his dwelling among us,         and we saw his glory,         the glory as of the Father’s only Son,         full of grace and truth. Reflection It was 4000 years from Adam and Eve to this moment in history when Jesus entered into the world. When God took human flesh and awakened us to a world that we could never have dreamt of, a world in which he would share his presence with you and with me, and transform the world and bring us into the kingdom of God. This is the moment that is most important for us to understand and to embrace and to participate in making God present in the world. Closing Prayer Father, nothing is more important than our understanding of the role that each of us share. And that role has something beautifully about us being engaged in bringing you, your wisdom, your truth, your life into the world. Bless us in this work. Keep us vigilant in our task. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]