GregCast Diakonia

[First, I offered our thanks and prayers for all of our Veterans on the occasion of Veterans Day, then proceeded with the Sunday Homily…] I wonder if we could assume the role of Elijah for a moment. We continue to wander through our lives, doing our best to proclaim the Truth of the Lord. We continue to share his message as we journey towards that mountain. God continues to provide for us. Before the excerpt in today’s First Reading from the First Book of King’s, God sends food to Elijah, as ravens bring him bread and meat. He prepares a Widow to welcome him, giving him what he needs from what little she has. Like the Prophet, our wanderings include many good days, and many days through our own deserts. In these past few weeks our country has had shootings with many killed in a Synagogue and in a Country & Western Bar. This weekend, many are dead and thousands are displaced from wildfires ravaging towns in Southern California. Closer to home, we face the reality of our own...

Good thing Jesus wasn't literal… or was he? We are all sinners, a Church full of cripples…  That’s one major reason why we come: Sick people need a physician. If we’re learning anything from the recent abuse crisis… We’re seeing that some of the Church’s Leadership i's very responsible because of their actions and inaction, and they need to follow the advice of the Gospel, for there is a need of some major, and even radical changes, which includes REMOVING certain parts that negatively effect the overall body! If we’ve learned anything from this past week in our world… It seems 100% certain that Sin and the effects of sinful action do not disappear with time. And it would seem that one should attempt to better themselves to avoid sin in the first place, or at least deal with it sooner rather than later, beginning with reconciliation and repentance. Finally, if we’re listening to the message of today’s Word… we hear that the Spirit can come down upon ALL, and doing the...

The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah provides a perfect summary statement, especially as he utilizes an Old Testament Prophet rule stating that when you begin a statement with the phrase, “Thus says the Lord,” everyone is supposed to listen! “Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. ” Apparently, it’s Birthday weekend. On September 8th, the Church celebrated the birthday of the Blessed Mother. That same day, I had the pleasure of joining family as we gathered to celebrate my wife Karen’s Grandmother’s 95th Birthday, and later that night, I joined together with friends to celebrate the 50th Birthday of a dear friend! Wow… Where does the time go? Twenty-one years ago today, my wife Karen and I were up this way with our two-year old daughter Michelle celebrating my Dad’s 59th Birthday. Michelle picked out the perfect Mickey Mouse candle for the...

A Forward... Today's Mass combined the Feast of Pope St. Gregory the Great and the celebration of Labor Day in our nation.  We look to the purpose and blessing of the work of the People of God, called to be disciples for the Lord.  For what it's worth, Pope St. Gregory the Great was the first add the title of "servant" to the Papacy and the Clergy.  Please allow yourself to apply these talking points to not only the work we are called to do, but also the work of the Church-at-large, especially as it faces its next, and most crucial challenge to respond to the Lord's call for purification and renewal. The Scripture references are taken from the readings at today's Mass , as well as some of the readings called for in the celebration of the Mass for Human Labor WE WERE MADE TO WORK! (Genesis 2: 15) The Lord God took the man, and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. God gave US the Church to cultivate and grow! WE FOLLOW IN THE STEP...

This summer, I've had the pleasure of joining in on some wonderful gatherings with our young adult Catholic Community. Combined with a Catholic College Ministry that really took off last year, our own Betsy Lashley has helped call our young people into not only a high school ministry, but also guide them to a very real opportunity to continue their faith journey into and beyond their college and young adult years. The gathering for the 21-35's this summer is called Good News and Cold Brews, and we’ve been meeting on the second Thursdays of the month. Like the title, the gathering is a combination of faith sharing (Good News) in a relaxed environment at a local bar (Cold Brews). You may have heard of a program in other cities called Theology on Tap... It’s a lot like that. Anyway, this past Thursday, our Diocese’s newest priest, Fr. Jonathan Howell, spoke about his vocation, and he likened it to the journey that brought Moses out of the desert as a simple stuttering shep...

This Sunday’s Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072918.cfm A simple review of the Summer’s Homilies on Discipleship... Disciples are forgiven and MUST FORGIVE! Disciples should always remain OPEN & WILLING to do God’s will! Disciples should are called to be Prophets… They SPEAK & TRUST in the Lord! Today… Disciples must FEED the world with CHRIST…  Sharing HUMILITY, GENTLENESS & LOVE until all have their fill! From the Prophet: ”For thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” *Notice that in the face of doubt, the Prophet is sure and confident in the promise of God! From the Psalm: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.” *Notice the faith of the people, as they give thanks to Lord, look to the Lord, and act justly with the Lord, who is near to them, satisfying their every desire! From St. Paul: “I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and...

A familiar theme that you’ll hear repeated in today’s readings notes how we “keep our eyes fixed on the Lord.” With that in mind, I’d first like to thank all who attended our First Friday Adoration this weekend, and those who will avail themselves to daily visits to the Chapel for quiet prayer. Whether its daily prayer before the Tabernacle, Exposition on Wednesday’s at 5:00pm, the Holy Hour on First Saturdays, or our monthly First Fridays, I encourage you to take the time to pray with us on a regular basis! I’ve been offering this Summer that this a time for us to learn about Discipleship, and to consider accepting the challenge to do what Jesus would do, on a regular basis, each day of our lives. While it’s fair to agree that this challenge might be very difficult, I continue to propose that the things we do on a regular basis can indeed be what Jesus needs it to be… An openness and a willingness to simply TRUST seems to be a key ingredient in today’s readings. Today’s Gospel ...