When you're feeling good about something you've done, are you being righteous or self-righteous? In today's Gospel, St. Paul is confident in his rightful relationship with God. It's okay to ask God to guide us to be righteous, being grateful when we have pleased God. Let us ask God to work through us to become more righteous and to help the poor and suffering. One way to do so is to read Pope Leo's first official document, "Dilexit Te".

Catholic Mass readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 26, 2025

First Reading: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
Second Reading: Second Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 5: 19
Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14

Fr. Chuck "reviews," reads from, and recommends a book on the Psalms titled, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene H. Peterson. At the Multnomah County Library website, patrons can put a hold on the ebook version or on the paperback—making Fr. Chuck return the copy he's borrowing! Learn more about it from its publisher by visiting https://ivpress.com/a-long-obedience-in-the-same-direction.

Do you ever need help with how to do something correctly? Listen to today's homily on how Psalm 121 shows us in a gentle voice the right way to lead a life of confidence in the Lord so God will strengthen us from within.

Catholic Mass readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 19, 2025

First Reading: Exodus 17: 8-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 121: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Second Reading: Second Timothy 3: 14 – 4: 2
Alleluia: Hebrews 4: 12
Gospel: Luke 18: 1-8

Do you know that gratitude isn't optional? It's our duty to be thankful; grateful faith connects us to God and brings us joy. Let us think of all of the things we are thankful for, so that our gratitude is not chained. And let us help those who are isolated and stigmatized as the lepers in today's readings were.

Catholic Mass readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 12, 2025

First Reading: Second Kings 5: 14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3c-4
Second Reading: Second Timothy 2: 8-13
Alleluia: First Thessalonians 5: 18
Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19

How are you choosing to use the gifts that God has given you? Are you stirring them into flame to grow your love and faith in Jesus? God has given us gifts that we can't get anywhere else, and every day, it's up to us to decide how to use them.

Catholic Mass readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 5, 2025

First Reading: Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Second Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14
Alleluia: First Peter 1: 25
Gospel: Luke 17: 5-10

Did you know that the last Sunday of September in the U.S. is Priesthood Sunday? Today's readings ask us to see beyond ourselves, and to realize that there is more to life than our comfort. Jesus asks us to support those in need, which includes our seminarians.

Catholic Mass readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 28, 2025

First Reading: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10
Second Reading: First Timothy 6: 11-16
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 8: 9
Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31

Do you ever think of Mass as a source of power? Our participation in Mass brings us God's power and grace, and helps us become more of the person God wants us to be, especially helping us to bring God's love to the poor.

Catholic Mass readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 21, 2025

First Reading: Amos 8: 4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113: 1-2, 4-6, 7-8
Second Reading: First Timothy 2: 1-8
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 8: 9
Gospel: Luke 16: 1-13

Are you wondering about the opening line of the second reading that "Jesus ... did not regard equality with God something to be grasped?" Father Chuck helps us to understand it by comparing Jesus to a jeweler's son who needs to rescue radiant diamonds (us) from the muck. Jesus understands and embraces the need to become human to be able to triumph over sin as God the Son, and doesn't seek the same role as God the Father.

Catholic Mass readings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14, 2025

First Reading: Numbers 21: 4b-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 78: 1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Gospel: John 3: 13-17

How has following Jesus radically changed your life? In today's second reading, St. Paul reveals Christianity as a revolutionary movement in which a slave becomes a beloved brother. It's just as true today that we as Christians are led by God to grow beyond worldly categories as we grow closer to Christ.

Catholic Mass readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 7, 2025

First Reading: Wisdom 9: 13-18b
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Philemon 1: 9-10, 12-17
Alleluia: Psalms 119: 135
Gospel: Luke 14: 25-33