Desert Experience

Second Sunday of Lent
March 17, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18 / Ps 27 / Phil 3:17 – 4:1 / Lk 9:28B-36
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

In my first few years in the priesthood, I had the privilege to minister to the residents of a remote, small, country town in the Pacific. It happened to be within my parish jurisdiction, so I had to be there quite often. People who have never been there consider it to be a God-forsaken place because there are no hospitals, no department stores, and yes, no electricity. But the folks that live there are the happiest and healthiest people in that region. Those who happen to visit that place, usually by accident, often have a desert experience. As a side note, one hundred percent of the residents there are Roman Catholics. When they have difficulties, their only recourse is to turn to God, since they are miles away from modern civilization. (more…)

Let Go To Be Free

First Sunday in Lent
March 10, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Dt 26:4-10 / Ps 91 / Rom 10:8-13 / Lk 4:1-13
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Although the beginning of Spring is still ten days from now, the fact that we have already made the “spring forward” of our clocks tells us that Spring is here. As you all know, Lent is the ancient word for Spring. This is the time when we members of the mystical body of Christ take a closer look at our relationship with our God and our neighbor. The good news is that even if we had a long hard winter in our spiritual life, our good and merciful God is always giving us a new springtime, so we can start all over and leave the past behind. (more…)

Be Changed

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
March 3, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Sir 27:4-7 / Ps 92 / 1 Cor 15:54-58 / Lk 6:39-45
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Today is the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We have been in the same book of the Gospel of Luke for the past three weeks. This part of Luke’s Gospel is called the Sermon on the Plain, and it’s a parallel to St. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. They share many similarities.

Let me refresh your memory on the gospels for the past few weeks. Two weeks ago, Jesus was talking about blessings: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry, for you will be satisfied.” He goes on: “Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep.” (more…)

Praying Together

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 24, 2019 – Year C
Readings: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 / Ps 103 / 1 Cor 15:45-49 / Lk 6:27-38
by Father Paul O’Donnell Duggan, Guest Celebrant

Can you guess who my favorite brother is and why? My favorite brother is Father Frank, because he always practices these three words, “Cherish no grudge.” People often ask me in response to that, “Who is my least favorite brother?” Can you dislike someone in your own family? I think dislike is too strong a word; perhaps distant would better describe my relationship to this brother. His name is Alton, and he lives in Minnesota. He was training for the priesthood, but he got expelled because he was smoking in the bathroom. This was in the 1950’s in Ireland, so it wasn’t an accepted thing. As a result of his expulsion, we never got to become close. (more…)

Trust the Lord

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 17, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Jer 17:5-8 / Ps 1 / 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 / Lk 6:17, 20-26
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

In my first few years in the priesthood, I was assigned by my former bishop to a parish in the Philippines that has mountains, hills, and rivers throughout, and it was truly a privilege to see the beauty of God’s creation there. I asked myself, “What good have I done to deserve living in this beautiful place? This is heaven on earth.”

Until one day I had to say a Mass in the boondocks, which would require me to walk across a long hanging bridge. The chair of the parish council there, who met me at the foot of the bridge, told me to leave my motorcycle at a house nearby so that we could walk across to the church on the other side. (more…)

Jesus’ Leaders

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 10, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Is 6:1-2A, 3-8 / Ps 138 / 1 Cor 15:1-11 / Lk 5:1-11
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

God’s ways are indeed different from what our human intelligence tells us is the right way. The entire history of salvation gives us examples of people whom God has chosen to be leaders, when by human standards, they would not make the cut. This is simply because God can see the whole picture.

I’m going to give you examples of three well-known men in history who were leaders during their time. Perhaps if each of them would run for office today, you could tell which of them would be considered good leaders based on the particular qualities and characteristics they have. (more…)

Free to Choose

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 3, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 / Ps 71 / 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 / Lk 4:21-30
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Picture something in your mind. I want you to picture this word: kingdom. What comes to mind when you hear the word “kingdom”? Maybe it’s an image of a form of government where there is an absolute monarch placed to rule over all the people. And maybe you see this as a bad thing, as an oppressive thing, a negative thing.

Maybe you get images of knights on horseback, charging off to defend king and country. Maybe you get images of a grand castle, with a handsome prince and lovely maidens dancing in a ballroom.

Now picture this: What do you imagine when I say “the kingdom of God”? What are you thinking about? Are you thinking about some future joyous time, when there’s no death, and there’s no pain, and there’s no suffering? Is that what you’re thinking about? Because that’s right – to an extent. (more…)

Friends of God

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 27, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Neh 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10 / Ps 19 / 1 Cor 12:12-30 / Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

It has been said that you know that a person is your friend if you wouldn’t hesitate to call him or her at 2 o’clock in the morning during an emergency. The first part of the gospel today is taken from the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, and the Evangelist addresses his narrative to a man named Theophilus.

The word “Theophilus” means “friend of God,” and this is who we are. In Chapter 15 of the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus said, “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father.” (more…)

Do What Jesus Tells You

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 20, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Is 62:1-5 / Ps 96 / 1 Cor 12:4-11 / Jn 2:1-11
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

About a month ago, Scott Marr of Nebraska was found by his son unconscious and barely alive. The following day his family was told by hospital doctors that his recovery from an apparent stroke was not expected. They subsequently gave permission for his breathing tubes to be removed, and they started planning for his funeral. After a few days in a coma and the day after the breathing tubes were removed, he started to respond. He is currently at home and on the road to a full recovery. He said that, although he is not an extremely religious person, he believes in God, and what happened to him is just a proof that everything he has been told about God is true. (more…)

Are You a Star?

The Epiphany of the Lord
January 6, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Is 60:1-6 / Ps 72 / Eph 3:2-3A, 5-6 / Mt 2:1-12
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Yesterday I had the privilege to be with my brother Knights at a state meeting. The Bishop just appointed me as an associate state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, so I am to be there for the state gatherings. The other associate chaplain is Monsignor Cregan from the Diocese of Arlington.

I was having coffee with him in one of the hotels nearby, before we went to St. Michael’s. He was so worried about the whereabouts of Kevin, the state deputy, because he was to follow him to St. Michael’s. I asked him if he couldn’t use his GPS instead, and he replied that he did not have GPS and had no interest in learning how to use it. I reassured him that the church was only three minutes away, but he insisted he would find someone who knew the place since it would be simpler just to follow. Of course, he made it there. (more…)