Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, November 1, 2026

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 

Recently, I traveled to Michigan with Bishop Freyer, Bishop Thanh, and eight priests from our Diocese to attend the “Jesus Conference” with nearly 1,000 other people.  It was quite an experience.  At the very beginning of the conference, they showed a video of a packed stadium and, using some very cool technology, made us feel as if we were surrounded by the roaring crowd.  Fr. John Riccardo, who led the conference, told us that the crowd was the “great cloud of witnesses” that is mentioned the 12th Chapter of the letter to the Hebrews.  Chapter 12 refers to the witnesses who are described in Chapter 11 as well as all of the souls in heaven because of their faith. 

Catholics include all believers as part of one spiritual family (the Communion of Saints) connected across Heaven, Purgatory, and Earth.  The word “saint” comes from the Latin sanctus, which simply means “holy.” While the Church formally “canonizes” certain individuals whose lives inspire us to embrace our faith more deeply, the Church also recognizes that countless everyday people—including family members and friends who passed away in God’s grace—are also saints in heaven. Because everyone in heaven is united with God in a state of complete holiness, they are considered saints.  The point is that, as we run the race of our lives, all of these saints in heaven are the “great cloud of witnesses” cheering us on and urging us to complete the race. 

As Fr. John told us, nobody goes to a college football game to watch the game.  They could watch the game more comfortably at home.  They go to a football game to participate, to give the edge to the home team with their loud cheers, to hopefully alter the outcome by creating the “home field advantage.”  The saints in heaven are not there to merely watch us struggle through this earthly existence.  They are there to participate in our faith journeys; to cheer us on, to support us, to intervene for us.  They truly want us to “win” this race and to join them in the heavenly kingdom. 

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, October 25, 2026

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the five-word formula to achieving eternal life: “Love God, Love One Another.”  That’s it.  Do that and we will be with God in the heavenly kingdom for all eternity.  It sounds so easy.  It’s not about memorizing dozens of rules, or performing dozens of complex rituals and responsibilities, it is simply about love.  It all starts with love and it all ends with love.  If we remember that, everything else will fall neatly into place.

Of course, the model of “love” that Jesus gives us is a complete surrender of oneself.  The Greek word is “kenosis” which means “self-emptying.”  That is the way that God loves us and it is the ideal way that we are to love Him and others.  It represents the deepest and most complete relationship that we can have.  Kenosis means that we love fully, without reservation, because we are free from selfishness and have no expectation of being rewarded or loved in return.

Kenosis recognizes that God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other.  When Jesus tells us that the entire Law is based upon loving God and others, He is telling us that these relationships are the foundation upon which our human lives are built and upon which our eternal lives depend.

While we may not achieve the ideal love that Jesus displayed, we do have examples of true kenosis in our marriages and in parenting our children.  In each instance, we are willing to give ourselves fully to the other person.  We focus on our spouse and children and recommit ourselves to that love every day.  We are devoted to each other.  As parents, we would never consider what our infant child will do for us when we comfort him at 3am.  We would never expect a reward or even a “Thank you.”  We simply give of ourselves freely and fully solely for the good of our child.

When we have a strong foundation of loving God, it is easier to see God in all things, particularly in those nearest to us.  When we experience true love in our families, it is easier to love those outside of our families.  Relationships are our key to success and happiness in this world and eternal life with God in the kingdom. 

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, October 18, 2026

“Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.”

In this week’s Gospel, the Pharisees and Herodians, who typically do not agree on anything and who don’t like each other very much, have chosen to work together against Jesus, who they see as their common enemy.  They are hoping to trap Jesus into running afoul of either the Romans or the Jews by asking him a question about paying taxes.

It is a familiar story. They ask Jesus if it is appropriate to pay taxes to Caesar.  He asks them whose image is on the coin used to pay the taxes.  They reply, “Caesar’s,” to which He famously responds, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  By answering in this manner, Jesus avoids the trap and makes it clear that it is indeed possible to be law abiding citizens while also being followers of the one, true God.

Before the Pharisees and Herodians set the trap, they actually say something that is both brilliant and instructional for all of us.  Of course, they were totally disingenuous in complimenting Jesus as they did, but their words ring true today.  They state that Jesus teaches “the way of God truthfully” and that He “does not care about anyone’s opinion,” and He is “not swayed by appearances.”  How beautifully does that capture the approach that Jesus takes with all whom He encounters and how perfectly does it express the way that all of us should be.  

Just as these religious leaders recognize that Jesus rises above the petty squabbles of each day, we must place our commitment to our faith above our daily earthly concerns.  We must always strive to find the Truth and we must teach that Truth even when (perhaps, especially when) it is not well received by others or not particularly convenient.  We must not allow anyone’s opinion to cause us to change our understanding of, or our commitment to, the Truth. We are called to be lights of Truth to the world.  Finally, because we recognize God’s Truth as the Truth of the eternal kingdom, we must be so focused on God’s Truth that we are not swayed by earthly appearances.

Fr. Mike