GregCast Diakonia

There’s a little secret I want to share with you, and I am only speaking for myself. When I prepare a Homily I usually begin a process that starts on Monday or Tuesday. I read the readings, I pray for some inspiration, I read the readings a few more times, and I pray a little more. Every now and then, I’ll also check on one of my favorite websites out there for reflections on the Sunday Readings. It’s called the Sunday Website at St. Louis University. This allows me a chance to focus and truly reflect on the readings. This week I came across a reflection called “The Power of Powerlessness” by Fr. Ron Rolheiser. He’s a priest serving with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He’s an author, speaker and is recently retired from his role as President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, and is currently serving on the faculty there. His reflection hit the mark for me… So much so that I’d like to share a part of it with you now, as I think it focuses on a key challenge th...

8-29-21 Today, we are called to be doers of God’s Word… To follow his law of love… To live in his Truth for all to see! On August 29th each year we remember the beheading of our Patron, St. John the Baptist! I can think of no better example to begin with today than he - A doer of God’s Word, and one who lived in the Truth for all to see! He has two Feast Days. One for his birth and one for his martyrdom. In his birth we celebrate that, as Jesus put it, no greater man has been born of a woman. Today, let us try to understand the courage that one needs to live out their commitment to this faith of ours! So let us look to our Patron Saint for example as Jesus calls us to authenticity. But let us all also be courageous enough to grapple with Christ’s warning to us, for no one (or nothing) from outside ourselves is to blame for our sinfulness. It’s something that possesses us from the inside, affecting us deep within, slowly taking hold, but leaving our outer shell intact so no one can see ...