HOMILY • The 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

PRI Reflections on Scripture | Tuesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time

August 27, 2024 === Gospel  Matthew 23:23-26 Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” Reflection All religion have practices, things that we should do in order to show that we have a willing spirit to do what God calls us to do. But the shadow of all the things that we do is the fact that the action doesn't always demand the intention that’s in the heart of the person.  And what Jesus saying to you no matter what you do,how many practices you have, if your heart isn't in the right place, if you're not wanting and willing to heal and to help someone, you are dangerous and you need to reflect upon what you're missing. The inside. The intention. Closing Prayer Father, you and only you can change us. You and only your grace and your spirit dwelling within us can give us the courage and the strength to act on what is most essential. Give us this wisdom. Give us this insight. 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 Bartholomew, Apostle

Original Post Date: August 24, 2024 === Gospel John 1:45-51 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him." Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Reflection The message here is the kingdom of God. What is it? How does one experience it? It has come to us through a human being called Jesus, and when he's introduced to the imagination of Nathaniel, Nathaniel first judges where he came from. But then he listens, and he pays attention, and what he sees and feels is someone who knows him, knows everything about him. And when he feels that connection, that beautiful union connection that we have with Jesus, then Jesus will be able to reveal to him who he really is. The message of God to the people that long for the one who can save them. Closing Prayer Father, our journey is to continually go back to you and to open our hearts to you. We read stories about you, but you’ve promise something much more than that. You've promised you will dwell within us. We can go to you and feel your presence and listen to you. You know us. You live in us. You invite us to work with you to save the world. Help us to see you in that way. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

HOMILY • The 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Original Airdate: August 27, 2023 Isaiah 22:19-23 | Romans 11:33-36 | Matthew 16:13-20 Opening Prayer Oh God, who cause the mind of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, amen. Closing Prayer Father, awaken in us the plan you’ve established for us.  Help us to joyfully, enthusiastically participate in building your kingdom, knowing that it is the thing that everyone longs for and the only true source of joy and peace.  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 | Saturday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Post Date: August 23, 2025 === Gospel Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Reflection Our human nature is something that we need to embrace, accept. There's a part of all of us that would love to be the center of the universe. There's a part of us that want to be esteemed, that we want people to thank us, we want people to look up to us. It's all a motive that can produce effective teaching, but if it gets out of control, if the ego gets in the way of the heart and really robs us of the most important quality, the humility, everything we achieve, everything we do in the kingdom of God is from God. And yet, our ego would love to claim everything that we do as something special in us. It's a lie. Remind yourself over and over when that voice comes along and says, why don't they appreciate what I do? God appreciates everything you do. Closing Prayer Father, there's a voice that comes into our minds over and over again. And it is somehow focused solely on whether or not we are seen as valuable. Heal us by awakening in us an awareness that the greatness that we are called to is always your work within us. Your work through us. Keep us from pride. Keep us humble and receptive and thankful. 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 | Friday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Original Post Date: August 23, 2024 === Gospel Matthew 22:34-40 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Reflection The Pharisees were always trying to trip Jesus up, but he never, ever fell into their trap. And once again, they're trying. They bring a scholar of the law, hoping that he will say something they can use against him. And so they say, all right, what's the most important commandment? Remember, there are many rules and regulations. Jesus just looked at him and said, it's love. It's all about love. It's all about your heart. It's about your relationships. Relationship with you, with ourselves, and with our brothers and sisters that we love more than anything else. It's the heart of it all. But we keep making it more complicated than it is. Closing Prayer Father, your message is life and light and all that we need. Keep us in touch with the core of your message. It resonates in our hearts so beautifully. And yet our mind sometimes still gets confused. So open our hearts to receive this beautiful message of love. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]