Ordinary Time

Putting Jesus first – yes, even above family – keeps everything in the right order and fills our lives with God's love and wisdom. This actually strengthens the love of spouses, families, and all of our relationships! Making Christ the top priority brings lasting peace and joy — but to do this, we must be deliberate about our priorities. May we all have the grace to rightly order our lives, let go of those possessions that posses us, and put Christ first.
 
Readings at this Mass: Wis 9:13–18b | Phlm 9–10, 12–17 | Lk 14:25–33 

When we de-center ourselves and re-center God, that’s when life becomes exciting and unpredictable and full of purpose — because God is exciting and unpredictable and purposeful. It’s liberating when we discover this! And it is a reminder that, at the end of the day, when our time comes, the most important thing that can be said about us is, “Here was a child of God, who was loved by God.”
 
Readings at this Mass: Sir 3:17–18, 20, 28–29  |  Heb 12:18–19, 22–24a  |  Lk 14:1, 7–14 

Jesus’ response to our complaints, our preoccupation with everyone and everything else, is 'What about you?'. Don’t worry about them. You strive to enter through the narrow gate. You come and follow me. You be my disciple. The essence of being a Catholic Christian is transformation: bringing that relationship with Christ into everything else I do. If I’m only focused on the things I do or everyone else around me, I miss the most important thing: the relationship Christ is inviting me into.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 66:18–21 | Heb 12:5–7, 11–13 | Lk 13:22–30

Jesus is not tame; He is God. And His peace is not like that of the world. Today's Gospel demonstrates that He knew that following Him would cause division. But following Him will also set your heart on fire with the Holy Spirit — filling you with joy beyond understand and providing hope that, no matter what befalls us, He's got us.
 
Readings at this Mass: Jer 38:4–6, 8–10 | Heb 12:1–4 | Lk 12:49–53 

True readiness for when Jesus comes again is about having a real, living relationship with Him. To abide with Him. And as we grow in that loving relationship, our hearts are moved to love and serve our families and neighbors, the poor and lonely. That’s how we keep our lamps lit and our hearts ready for the day when Jesus returns.
 
Readings at this Mass: Wis 18:6–9 | Heb 11:1–2, 8–19 | Lk 12:32–48

Our culture makes it hard to slow down. Depending on your stage of life, it might feel nearly impossible — jobs, kids, commitments, constant demands. So what’s the solution? Learn from the life of Jesus. Live at his speed — not a rushed speed, not a distracted pace. Can you picture Jesus cutting people off in traffic, or glued to his phone while talking to someone? Of course not! And as disciples, we are called to conform our lives to His: to slow down, to live attentively.
 
Click here to watch "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry"
 
Readings at this Mass: Eccl 1:2; 2:21–23 | Col 3:1–5, 9–11 | Lk 12:13–21

Fr. Bill has an unexpected conversation with God about the Lord’s Prayer.
 
Readings at this Mass: Gn 18:20–32 | Col 2:12–14 | Lk 11:1–13

True peace comes from having our hearts attached to the Lord’s and living out of that center. In letting His words speak to the deep places inside, letting them shape our thinking, our speaking, our choosing — even in our busyness. The Lord knows we lead busy lives. Jesus comes to us anyway and says, “I know you don’t have hours. How about just a few minutes. Can you give me that? Just a few minutes? Just for today?”
 
Readings at this Mass: Gn 18:1–10a | Col 1:24–28 | Lk 10:38–42