Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Post Date: June 27, 2024 === Gospel Matthew 7:21-29 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Reflection Jesus knew the background of his disciples, and they were prone to, as the temple seemed to be filled with images of human beings that were doing what was right, but not becoming who God wanted them to be. They lacked authenticity. And what Jesus is trying to say to his disciples is, when I ask you to do something, I'm really not just saying do it. I'm saying, let me enter into you and do it through you. That's our authenticity. That's our strength. God being the source of the power that we have to heal and change people's lives. Closing Prayer Father, over and over again, you show us signs of your desire to share your power, your wisdom, your strength with us. It is not that we can learn what you know, as much as we can be who you are through your indwelling presence. Bless us with the confidence that comes not from ourselves, but from you. 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 | Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Original Post Date: June 24, 2025 === Gospel Luke 1:57-66, 80 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. Reflection We see in this story a very, very important teaching. The Old Testament and the New Testament are not the same. The Old Testament, based on the law and performance. The New Testament based on God's presence within us. It's a radical shift. And it’s so fascinating that in the plan of God, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets is the one that looks at Jesus and says, there that's the one. That's what we've been talking about. That's the direction you need to now take. Listen to him. I spoke God's words, but he is God incarnate. Closing Prayer Father, it's always been difficult for us to make the shift between the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament is so much more attuned to our minds and our wills. And yet, the New Testament demands that we open our heart and let God dwell there. So help us in this transition. It's what we all go through in our own spiritual journey. 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 | Tuesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Post Date: June 25, 2024 === Gospel  Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Reflection These remarks are made to Jesus disciples when they're going out and trying to call people into the teaching of Jesus. And so he tells them not to waste your time with people with closed minds. And then he goes on and says, you know, you are changing the way people understand my father, my God. The law and the prophets have always asked people to do what they're told and to earn salvation. But the teaching of Jesus is radically different. He goes on to say and teach very clearly that the only way that you can be saved is to allow God to save you, to free you of your sins, to enter into you and change your life. It's not something earned. It's a gift that has to be received. Closing Prayer Father, keep us from working too hard to fix ourselves or fix other people. Help us to simply trust that we are in a process of transformation, guided by not only your grace within us, your presence, but also with things that are not always what we expect. 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 | Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Post Date: June 26, 2023 === Gospel Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said to his disciples: "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.” Reflection What Jesus is doing, is making a very simple truth evident. When we judge others, it's often because they are in some way representing something in us that we haven't really faced. Why would we not face things when we think about our relationship with God? He is mercy. He is forgiveness. So we need to examine very carefully whenever we're caught in that spirit of judgment to question it. And to know that there's another way, a way of love, a way of forgiveness, a way of understanding. Closing Prayer Father, you are forgiveness.Yet so often we hide our weaknesses from those that we feel want us to be more than we are. We're not as honest as we should be. Give us the honesty to face our weaknesses and know your love and your forgiveness so we can offer that gift to others. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

HOMILY • The 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Airdate: June 25, 2023 Jeremiah 20:10-13 | Romans 5:12-15 | Matthew 10:26-33 Opening Prayer: Grant, oh Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, never deprive of your guidance those set firm on the foundation of your love.  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. Closing Prayer: Father, you’ve revealed to us that evil is so powerful when it’s hidden, when people don’t recognize it and blame just human nature for not being what it should be, but the truth is it’s a power so strong that, without you, we are vulnerable.  So open our hearts to a conviction that you are in us, guiding us, empowering us, not only to speak truth but to endure the rejection that comes with speaking truth.  It’s your way.  It’s your plan.  Let us submit, and we ask this in Jesus’ name, amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]