Readings at this Mass: Wis 12:13, 16–19 | Rom 8:26–27 | Mt 13:24–43

What fruit is God producing in your life? And through that fruit, what seeds are you scattering into the lives of others? There are parts of our lives where God’s Word has taken deep root and is bearing fruit. There are other parts crowded by anxiety, distracted by the world, or hardened by disappointment and sin. If that’s you, don’t lose hope: God is still in the business of cultivating hearts.

Readings at this Mass: Is 55:10–11 | Rom 8:18–23 | Mt 13:1–23

When the world, social media, or certain politicians and podcasters, would have us see one another as enemies, remember that this is demonic in the most basic sense of the word — “demon” from the Greek word meaning to divide or to scatter. As we celebrate 250 years together, my challenge to you is to resist that scattering. Cast out the demonic. There’s a lot of good out there, my friends, if we’re willing to claim it.

Readings at this Mass: Is 55:10–11 | Rom 8:18–23 | Mt 13:1–23

Our true freedom can only come from dependence on God, who has endowed us with the gift of life won through His suffering and death. And that it is only through our humble acceptance of Christ into our lives that we — ourselves and this dearly beloved country of ours — will not perish from the earth, but will truly inherit the freedom of the sons and daughters of God, and will have true and eternal life.

Readings at this Mass: 2 Kgs 4:8–11, 14–16a | Rom 6:3–4, 8–11 | Mt 10:37–42

The problem, as we know, is that we don’t get heaven until we get to heaven. There is no human solution to all of our ills and troubles. So here’s the question we all need to sit with: can we find peace living in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people? Can you be patient and trusting with the ups and downs, the insults and injuries, even the tragedies of life, trusting that God will accompany you through them all and, in the end – somehow – draw good from them?

Readings at this Mass: Jer 20:10–13 | Rom 5:12–15 | Mt 10:26–33

Sometimes, we slip into the mindset that Catholicism is just a strict recipe: a bunch of rules we must execute perfectly to get God to love us. Many of us still imagine that God operates transactionally. But God's love doesn't react to our behavior — it precedes our very existence. He does not love us only when we finally clean up our lives; we are only capable of changing our lives because He loved us first. Let's obey God's laws not out of a fearful desire to earn His love, but out of a joyful, overflowing gratitude because we are already loved.

Readings at this Mass: Ex 19:2–6a | Rom 5:6–11 | Mt 9:36—10:8

Christ is not inviting us to excess or self-indulgence, but in making Himself bread and wine, He is blessing the ordinary and the extraordinary. Sustenance and celebration. He comes to us through symbols of the fullness of life in every stage and season. And these elements of bread and wine become not only our life-giving food, but much more. When we eat this bread and drink this wine we receive Christ’s life – the life of the Trinity that is self-giving, self-emptying love, a love that gives everything and contains all suffering and sorrow as well as all happiness and joy.

Readings at this Mass: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a | 1 Cor 10:16-17 | Jn 6:51-58

The way to protect our hearts from ever being broken is to seal them off and never take the risk of love; to close ourselves off. And that is the opposite of what the Trinity is. The Trinity is outpouring, complete self-giving. And that means being broken. It means taking a risk. Love means we are going to be hurt, but love doesn't care. Love is willing to take the risk. And love knows that life is better, that everything is better, when we pour ourselves out in love, even though that is painful and difficult.

Readings at this Mass: Ex 34:4b–6, 8–9 | 2 Cor 13:11–13 | Jn 3:16–18