Category: Feasts

Making Triangles

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Holy Trinity

Each time we make the sign of the cross we are proclaiming that our God is a Trinity – God IS a relationship, so united that the Three are actually One, and yet the One remains Three.  And we, caught up in this relationship of God through baptism, are called by Jesus today to, “Go and make disciples.”

Luckily, it’s not as complicated or scary as it might sound – it’s all about relationship!  God is a relationship.  We are connected to God through our relationship with Him.  We are connected with others through our relationships with them, and the goal is that through us they would also come to experience God and a life of faith and hope and fulfillment and that they would be inspired to enter into relationship with God themselves!

So making disciples is like MAKING TRIANGLES!

The Holy Spirit Prayer

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Pentecost

The Holy Spirit comes on this Pentecost day to strengthen us in 3 ways:

  1. In our relationship with Jesus Christ
  2. In defending the faith
  3. In spreading the faith

Every day this week, pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.  Come, Holy Spirit.  Come, Holy Spirit.”  When you feel your relationship with the Lord is not what it could be, when the Church is being looked down on, when someone needs to hear the encouragement of a life lived in faith, it is the Holy Spirit who will give you His strength and His words to speak into that situation!  Come, Holy Spirit!

un-Lazy River

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

A Lazy River with a bunch of kids is never “lazy” — it’s always moving, surprising, dynamic, alive!  Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  And what we profess every single time we make the sign of the Cross — “In the name of the F, and of the S, and of the HS” — is that our God isn’t a boring, one dimensional, existence.  What we’re saying is that our God, in Godself, is three persons, living in so close and dynamic a relationship that they are actually united as One God.  God’s very life is not isolated or lonely; God’s very life is moving, surprising, dynamic, alive — like an eternal un-Lazy River…and that’s the kind of life He invites us to join Him in!

Memorial Day Weekend

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Easter Season, Feasts

Pentecost Sunday

On this Memorial Day Weekend we remember our United States Military personnel who have died while serving in the US Armed Forces: we honor them, express our gratitude, pray for them…and even pray to them.  We believe in the Communion of Saints, that we are one body in Christ, and that we help one another on this journey towards fullness of life in God, both during this earthly life and after – not even death can separate us who are united in Jesus Christ!

Overview: “He Delivered us From the Power of Darkness”

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Advent, Feasts

Solemnity of Christ the King

On this great Solemnity, Deacon Brian prepares us for our Advent journey by outlining the great story we will be sharing over the homilies of Advent, the story that has changed and will continue to change the world (if we let it): our story – the creation, the capture, the rescue, and our response!

Christendom vs. Apostolic Times

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts, Ordinary Time

Corpus Christi

You ever wonder why you brought your kids up going to Church and educated them in Catholic schools…and yet most of them don’t go to Church anymore?  You ever worry about why, even though you tell your kids and grandkids that they should go to church and pray, and even though you tell them that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, they still don’t come and don’t believe?  I mean, that’s how you were raised, and you’re here, right?  So that’s how you raised your kids…so why aren’t they here?!  Christendom times vs. Apostolic times – that’s the reason!  We have gone from Christendom times to Apostolic times, but we’re still trying the tactics that used to work but don’t anymore.  The good news: the Catholic Church thrives in Apostolic times – we just need to remember anew how to live in them!

Ask 6

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts, Ordinary Time

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Last summer I challenged everyone to Meet 6, to meet six people from church.  This summer I’m asking you to take the next step.  Christian community isn’t simply meeting or knowing people or getting together; that’s a first step…but Christian community involves Jesus Christ!  Christian community is about Christ-informed relationships, faith-filled friendships and interactions.  The next step in the process, whether it’s someone you know well or someone you don’t know at all, is to ask a very simple, yet a very powerful, question once you’ve met them: “Is there something I can pray for you for?” “How can I pray for you?”

This summer, Ask 6!  Step out of your comfort zone to ask six people, “Is there something I can pray for you for?” Then bring that intention to prayer before God on that person’s behalf.  We all know our world needs the light of Christ, and you, O Christian, have the power to bring that light into our world with an extremely simple and inviting question: “Is there something I can pray for you for?” “How can I pray for you?”  Then pray!

Holy Family

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Feast of the Holy Family

Jesus not only came as a baby at Christmas, He also entered into a human family – with all the joys and frustrations that go with it.  We are challenged in all relationships, but especially in the family, to put the wants and needs of others before our own, to stretch our hearts, to learn how to love more, to sacrifice for each other.  Our readings today all challenge us to put others first, “Children, obey your parents in everything…Wives, be subordinate to your husbands…Husbands, love your wives.”  Jesus loved us, and so He subordinated Himself to our needs, even to the point of death.  We can practice this kind of love every day, especially in the family!

Getting Personal

On By Fr. David NeuschwanderIn Feasts

Pentecost

Unlike so many other religions, Christianity makes the incredibly bold claim that the God who created all things desires a personal relationship with each one of us.  Our God is anything but impersonal; our God, as revealed through Scripture and especially in the Person of Jesus Christ, is incredibly personal!  But it’s easier for us as humans to be impersonal in all kinds of different matters, and that tendency to lean toward the easy and impersonal can sneak its way into our faith as well.  But God desires a close, deep, rich, personal relationship with each or us.  So this week are you willing to let your relationship with God get personal?!