Bishop Peter Smith fills in for Father Chuck with this homily on his insights about the election of Pope Leo and his reflections on today's second reading. Did you know that the Holy Spirit is at work in our archdiocese, bringing an increased interest in the Catholic Church, particularly from young men? Our choosing to follow God will bring us to the new heaven and new earth when all creation is renewed.

Catholic Mass readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 18, 2025

First Reading: Acts 14: 21-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 8-9, 10-11, 12-13
Second Reading: Revelation 21: 1-5a
Alleluia: John 13: 34
Gospel: John 13: 31-33a, 34-35

Have you ever rejoiced to be "worthy to suffer dishonor"? While the Sanhedrin feared Jesus's blood in today's first reading, we join the apostles in welcoming it as a sign of His love and sacrifice. Jesus's blood transforms and renews us through the Eucharist so we can share His love with the world.

Catholic Mass readings for the third Sunday of Easter, May 4, 2025

First Reading: Acts 5: 27-32, 40b-41
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 30: 2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
Second Reading: Revelation 5: 11-14
Gospel: John 21: 1-19

What would you like to receive from Jesus when He comes to stand in our midst, as He did in today's Gospel reading? Jesus brings us His peace. We can call down God's peace and mercy upon ourselves, the Church, and the world by faithfully offering up our joys and our struggles. To make this prayerful offering, Fr. Chuck suggests trying a twist on the traditional prayer "May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace." What's that twist? The epsiode title gives a hint; to learn more, listen now.

Catholic Mass readings for the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy), April 27, 2025

First Reading: Acts 5: 12-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Second Reading: Revelation 1: 9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
Alleluia: John 20: 29
Gospel: John 20:19-31

Did you know that "hope" is such an important concept in recent years that not only Pope Francis but also Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II wrote inspiring words about it? Fr. Chuck unknowingly pays an end-of-life homage to Pope Francis by quoting extensively from his announcement of the current Jubilee Year of Hope only a few hours before Pope Francis' death early on Monday of Easter Week. May we be not just pilgrims but also proclaimers of hope.

Pope Francis's "Spes Non Confundit", 2024

Pope Benedict XVI's "Spe Salvi", 2007.

Pope John Paul II's "Crossing the Threshold of Hope", 1994

Catholic Mass Readings for the Resurrection of the Lord, Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

First Reading: Acts 10: 34a, 37-43
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4 or First Corinthians 5: 6b-8
Alleluia: First Corinthians 5: 7b-8a
Gospel: John 20: 1-9 or Matthew 28: 1-10 or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, Luke 24: 13-35

Today, hear how the Passion according to St. John the Evangelist can be a means for God to grant you wonderful spiritual fruit and gifts. These blessings can be ours through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary who, with St. John, stood as the foot of the Cross. Listen as Fr. Chuck suggests prayers and actions which relate to this Gospel. These suggestions arise from the devotional prayer that the Gospel narratives of the Lord's Passion inspired, namely, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

Catholic readings for Friday of the Passion of the Lord, April 18, 2025

First Reading: Isaiah 52: 13 – 53: 12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9
Verse Before the Gospel: Philippians 2: 8-9
Gospel: John 18: 1 – 19: 42

Listen now to hear about St. Clare's miraculous vision of seeing a Mass—"in real time" as we say these days—when she wasn't physically there. Then hear how Fr. Chuck ties that miracle to Christ's perpetual institution of the Mass and the Eucharist as ways to give himself to us in love and power. Plus, learn how ministers to the homebound and to the hospitalized embody St. Clare's miracle and Christ The Servant's timeless self-giving works. That's the vision Fr. Chuck upholds for those who visit the sick as ambassadors of Christ and of the Church, whether or not they are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick.

Catholic Mass readings for the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday), April 17, 2025

First Reading: Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116: 12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
Second Reading: First Corinthians 11: 23-26
Gospel: John 13: 1-15

How are you doing with your Lenten resolutions? We have this special time of Holy Week to welcome Jesus into our hearts. Let us make this week a retreat and keep it Holy by focusing on our Lenten resolutions, reading the Scriptures, performing charitable acts, and carving out more silence. Let us be Pilgrims of Hope with Jesus.

Catholic Mass Readings for Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, April 13, 2025

Procession: Luke 19: 28-40
First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Verse Before the Gospel: Philippians 2: 8-9
Gospel: Luke 22: 14 – 23: 56