Missionary Disciple

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus calls us to be transformed, to be renewed in mind and action, to look and act differently than others normally do: this theme runs through all of our readings.  Yes, we are called to be disciples of Jesus, but our mission is more than just following Jesus as a disciple.  Jesus’ last words on this earth before He ascended into heaven give us our mission: “Go and make disciples”.  So we are called to not only be disciples, but missionary disciples, reaching out genuinely and in faith to others that the Lord puts in our path so that we can fulfill the mission Jesus entrusted to us: to make disciples!  The movement from a disciple to a missionary disciple is slight, but it’s also powerful…and it makes all the difference!

The Willing Ones

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Ordinary Time

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What does our world need?  Whom does God seek?  Not the “perfect” or the “sinless”, but the willing!   No matter how unworthy we are, He calls us, and when we willingly say “yes,” He cleanses us, and He strengthens us to go on whatever mission He has planned for us.

This week, let’s be the ones whom God seeks and whom our world needs: the willing ones.  “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”

Baptized: Children of the Father

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Baptism of the Lord

When we are baptized in the waters, we are adopted into God’s family and actually become, in Jesus, children of the Father.  Baptism happens once and is the doorway to the other sacraments.  Receiving the Eucharist (which we do again and again and again) is becoming who we are: the Body of Christ.  So ask yourselves a few questions: “How do I come to Mass?  What do I see as my role at Mass?  How am I engaged at Mass?”

“Priest of God,
Celebrate this Mass as if it is your first Mass,
Your last Mass and your only Mass.”

“People of God,
Celebrate this Mass as if it is your first Mass,
Your last Mass and your only Mass.”

Part 3/4: Rescued with Joy

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Advent

3rd Sunday of Advent

We were created by God for the kingdom of eternal life with him; by our own free choices to turn away from God and ‘go at it on our own’ we’ve been captured by the kingdom of sin, death, darkness and Satan.  Jesus becoming a baby at Christmas is the invasion of one kingdom (the kingdom of darkness, hell, death, sin and Satan) by a stronger kingdom (the kingdom of God).

Jesus came as a warrior, a predator.  He became one of us, waited 33 years, lived and taught the kingdom of God by example, both showing us the way and luring in his quarry — Satan, the devil — and then finally on the cross Satan fell prey to the trap set for him in a manger decades earlier!

Jesus on the cross is not poor or helpless. He’s not the hunted. Jesus on the cross is the aggressor and the hunter.  And so when death unknowingly took in its jaws, chewed up and swallowed the Author of Life, something extraordinary happened: death itself was slain from within!  That’s the good news that we have to share, that’s why we can be full of joy this Advent — Christ has conquered, and we can now live in His kingdom, if we so choose.

Part 1/4: Created in Hope

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Advent

1st Sunday of Advent

During this Advent season we will be doing a 4-part homily series as we Journey to the Manger together to welcome the Christ-child at Christmas.  Our story starts with God’s incredible creation – of the universe, and of each of us – and the hope that it promises.

As Fr. Riccardo says: “God created and runs this immense universe, and nothing is more important to him than you and me…He thinks you’re worth the trouble.”  That’s what it means to be created!

So on this Journey, when you are feeling “drowsy” from “the anxieties of daily life”, I encourage you to take a moment and look at the world with fresh eyes.  Allow God to reinvigorate you with hope.  Pause and be filled with wonder each day.

“O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, 
Consider all, the worlds thy hands have made.”

Advent: Journey to the Manger

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Uncategorized

Solemnity of Christ the King

Together, during this Advent season, all 5 of our parishes (along with Christians throughout the world) prepare to welcome Jesus into our hearts and homes in new and deeper ways, and as we are practicing hospitality in opening our hearts and homes to God, let us also practice hospitality by inviting others in our lives to join us.

On this Feast of Christ the King, Christ is a King Who doesn’t force His way into hearts, He doesn’t strong-arm His way into our lives, Christ is a King who came first as a baby, silently, quietly, yet in the full power of God to destroy the darkness of sin and to bring the joy and peace that only God can. The Journey to the Manger is both the triumph of Christ the King and the Triumph of Christ the Babe, Who wants a warm place of welcome in the manger of your heart, and who wants us to invite others to join us as we Journey to the Manger, so that He can have a warm welcome in their hearts as well!

Hudson: Post-Election

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Uncategorized

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

I want to talk about 2 things today:

  1. How do we as Catholics respond to an election?
  2. What will actually change our country for the better?

This weekend I preached in my hometown of Hudson, Wisconsin, at the parish of St. Patrick where I grew up.  It was a blessing to be home!  (One disclaimer is that the answer to the homiletic answer to first question above I begged, borrowed, and stole from an excellent homily of my own Deacon Dave DiSera of Hayward which he gave the weekend before the election. I thought that his words were so pertinent they bore repeating. So thank you, Deacon Dave!)