"Our Need for the Holy Spirit" by Fr. Chris House
June 7, 2024
Today's Gospel passage presents us with a scene that is challenging and insightful. It brings to light several crucial aspects of Jesus' ministry and his relationship with his followers, his family, and his opponents, while also highlighting the necessity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The passage begins with Jesus returning home, only to be surrounded by a crowd so large that he and his disciples cannot even eat. This is a testament to the growing interest and curiosity about Jesus and his teachings. However, not everyone is pleased. His own family, concerned by the reports they have heard, believes that he is out of his mind and sets out to take charge of him. This misunderstanding by Jesus' family highlights a profound truth: even those closest to us may not always understand our mission or the path we are called to walk in faith. It reminds us that following God's will can sometimes lead to conflict or misunderstanding with those we love.
Further complicating the situation, the scribes accuse Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul, attributing his ability to drive out demons to the power of the prince of demons. Jesus responds with a parable, pointing out the absurdity of their accusation. He argues that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan were casting out Satan, it would signify internal conflict leading to his downfall. Jesus' logic is clear: his works of healing and casting out demons are evidence of the kingdom of God breaking into the world, not the work of Satan. This confrontation with the scribes serves as a reminder of the resistance we may face when living out our faith, particularly from those who feel threatened by the change and truth that Jesus brings.
One of the most challenging aspects of this passage is Jesus' warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He states that all sins and blasphemies can be forgiven, except for this one sin which is an everlasting sin. This has caused much concern and confusion among believers. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in this context, refers to a deliberate and persistent rejection of the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. It is a conscious and hardened stance against God's work and presence. Jesus warns against this because it represents a heart that is closed off to repentance and the transformative power of God's grace.
Towards the end of the passage, we see Jesus’ mother and brothers arriving and seeking to speak with him. When Jesus is informed of their presence, he responds by redefining the concept of family. He looks at those seated around him and declares, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." This radical statement emphasizes that true kinship in the kingdom of God is not based on biological ties but on a shared commitment to doing God's will. Jesus invites us to see ourselves as part of a larger spiritual family, united by our faith and obedience to God.
This Sunday’s Gospel challenges us to accept that following Jesus may lead to misunderstandings, even with those closest to us. Our commitment to God's will must remain steadfast. Living out our faith authentically may provoke opposition, but we are called to stand firm in the truth and love of Christ, knowing that his works are manifest in our lives. To do this, we need to welcome the presences of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through a constant openness to the Spirit, we receive God's transformative grace and allow the Spirit to guide and shape our lives.
Annual Mission Appeal
Next Sunday we will welcome Fr. Joseph from the Congregation Missionaries of Faith for our annual Mission Appeal. The congregation was founded in Italy in 1982 and began working in India in 1989 after the first six priests from India were ordained in Italy. Currently there are around 300 priests of different nationalities in the congregation, of which around 100 priests belong to India.
The Missionaries of Faith in India engage in the work of direct evangelization by taking up new mission areas of the country. The congregation has missions in the northeastern parts of India bordering with China, and with Myanmar and in the south. They have established village schools for children, orphanages, medical dispensaries, chapels and above all formation houses for the seminarians to be future missionaries. The congregation depends on the providence of God through the generosity of the people for its work of evangelization, formation of seminarians and charitable work.
Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!
Father Chris House
Happy All Souls Day! All Souls Day falls on November 2 each year and we have the great privilege of celebrating this commemoration on Sunday this year. Each All Souls Day, we are invited to honor and pray for our beloved dead - our friends and family. A common practice in most parishes is to have a Book of the Dead, where we write down names of people that we want to pray for during November. Our Book of the Dead is located by the Baptismal Font. Feel free to add names of those you want to honor and pray for in a special way. Also as a Parish Family, we will honor and pray for our beloved parishioners who passed away this past year at a special Mass of Remembrance on November 5. Another great practice for the first days of November is the following Novena prayed during the first 9 days of November in a cemetery. https://www.praymorenovenas.com/souls-daynovena. Traditional Prayer when visiting a grave: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him/her. May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. Below, you can see another change to my military schedule. The on-going changes are due to the federal government shut down. Reminder that our Pre-Advent Mission is coming up on Nov. 9 and 10 at 6:30pm . You can find details in the bulletin. Dennis will present on Mary, our Blessed Mother, and I will present on St. Joseph. Candlelight Mass for Advent will be offered on December 3, 10, and 17 at 5:30pm. We will have a few lights in the Church to provide light to get to the pews and Holy Communion. In the sanctuary, there will only be Candlelight as we await the light of Christ at Christmas. Military Weekends Dec 5-7 and Jan 10-11
Happy 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time! Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel of the importance of humility. He uses the powerful image of a tax collector to convey the virtue of humility. It is an odd image since tax collectors were not seen as examples of virtue. They were often worldly men who stole and cheated through the tax system of the day. The tax collector’s action in the Gospel today Is what we live out at the beginning of every Mass with the Penitential Act – Lord have mercy on me a sinner! I am away this weekend at Good News Conference in Florida. https://www.goodnewsconference.com/ If you are interested in signing up for a Mass ministry, sign-up sheets available in the back and the Parish Office will reach out for training. Next weekend, Nov 1, All Saints, is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year. We will have a special Daily Mass that day at 8am on Nov. 1. For the regular Sunday Masses, Nov. 1-2, we will celebrate All Souls Day, a special day every year that we pray and remember our beloved dead. We will have a special Mass of Remembrance as a Parish on Nov. 5. Before you know it our Patronal Feast Day and Advent will be here. Christ the King Sunday falls on Nov. 22-23. We will have our Parish Breakfast on Nov. 23 after 8am and 10am Masses to celebrate our Parish Feast Day! This year, we will do new things for Advent. On Nov. 9 and 10 at 6:30pm, we will have a Pre-Advent Mission on Advent Journey with Mary our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. This Pre-Advent Mission will consist of a talk each night to prepare us for our Advent Journey to Christmas. On Nov. 9, Dennis Trickey will offer a talk on Mary, our Blessed Mother and help us apply lessons from her life that can assist us with Advent. Following his talk, we will have Candlelight Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour with confessions available. One Nov. 10, I will offer a talk on St. Joseph and glean lessons from his life to assist us with Advent. Following this talk, we will have a social fellowship opportunity in the Parish Center with drinks and snacks. Anyone is welcome to attend this Mission as we prepare for our Advent journeys. Also, during Advent this year, we will have special Masses on Wednesday evenings called Rorate Caeli Mass. It is a Mass honoring Mary’s role in salvation done by Candlelight only, since we are awaiting the light of Christ at Christmas. We will offer these special Masses on December 3, 10, and 17 at 5:30pm. We will have a few lights on in the Church to provide light to get to the pews and Holy Communion. In the sanctuary, there will only be Candlelight as we await the light of Christ at Christmas. Military Drill Nov. 14-16, no Dec drill, Jan 10-11
Happy 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time! Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel of the importance of persistence in prayer. Persistence in prayer is not so much about changing God’s mind, but about us persistently seeking communion with God in prayer. As St. John of Damascus said prayer is lifting up of our heart and mind to God. From that encounter and communion with God, prayer changes us. Prayer transforms our thoughts, feelings, desires, and choices over time as we seek communion with God. Due to the federal government shutdown, I will be here this weekend. My military drill was rescheduled for a later date. My next weekend with the Reserves will be in November I will be away next weekend for the Good News Conference in Florida. If you are interested in signing up for a Mass ministry, sign-up sheets are available in the back and the Parish Office will reach out for training. Before you know it our Patron Feast Day and Advent will be here. Our Patron Feast Day, Christ the King Sunday, falls on Nov. 22-23. We will continue the Parish Breakfast on Nov. 23 after the 8am and 10am Masses to celebrate our Parish Feast Day! This year, we will do new things for Advent. On Nov. 9 and 10 at 6:30pm, we will have a Pre-Advent Mission on Advent Journey with Mary our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. This Pre-Advent Mission will consist of a talk each night to prepare us for our Advent Journey to Christmas. On Nov. 9, Dennis Trickey will offer a talk on Mary, our Blessed Mother and help us apply lessons from her life that can assist us with Advent. Following his talk, we will have Candlelight Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour with confessions available. One Nov. 10, I will offer a talk on St. Joseph and glean lessons from his life to assist us with Advent. Following this talk, we will have a social fellowship opportunity in the Parish Center with drinks and snacks. Anyone is welcome to attend this Mission as we prepare for our Advent journeys. Also, during Advent this year, we will have a special Daily Mass on Wednesdays called Rorate Caeli Mass. It is a Mass honoring Mary’s role in salvation done by Candlelight only, since during we are Advent awaiting the light of Christ at Christmas. We will offer this special Mass on December 3, 10, and 17 at 5:30pm. We will have a few lights in the Church to provide light to get to the pews and Holy Communion. In the sanctuary, there will only be Candlelight as we await the light of Christ at Christmas. Military Drill Nov. 15-16, no Dec drill
Happy 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time! Last Weekend, I gave the State of the Parish Homily to give us a snapshot of parish life at Christ the King. Below are some numbers that I mentioned in my homily. I also mentioned some next steps including recruiting more Mass ministers, discerning our Parish Vision/Mission and goals, discerning more fellowship and formation opportunities and campus map of projects upcoming. Those will all come in due time. If you are interested in signing up for a Mass ministry, sign-up sheets are available in the back and the Parish Office will reach out for training. I will be away Oct. 17-19 for military drill with Army Reserves. I also will be away Oct. 24-25, for the Good News Conference. I scheduled this conference before I received my new military schedule. My apologies for being away two straight weekends. Parish Life Numbers (approximate yearly averages) Offertory: $1.2 Million Parish Subsidy to School from offertory: $500,000 Mass attendance total: 1,100 to 1,200 each weekend Baptisms: 25 Funerals: 25 Sacraments of confirmation/Holy Communion: 50 Sacramental marriages: 3 New Catholics: 5 to 7 people coming into the Church each year PSR: 10 to 15 kids a year Grade School total: 472 (93 Pre-K) Mass Ministry numbers: Lectors: 27 Rosary Leaders: 7 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: 45 Greeters: 29 Sacristans: 14 Ushers: 15 Servers: 20 Military Drill Oct. 17-19, Nov. 15-16, no Dec drill
Happy 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time! Thank you to everyone for our donations to Guatemala water project. We raised over $6,500! Thank you to all the volunteers who made the St Carlo Eucharistic Display possible. From setting up, opening parish center and locking, plus cleaning up, I am deeply thankful to everyone for helping display the Eucharistic Miracles. As you saw, there have been many Eucharistic miracles through history, and each one has an amazing story with it. This weekend, Oct. 4-5, I will be preaching at all the Masses and giving what I call the State of the Parish Homily. I offer this homily just once a year annually. In the bulletin, you will find our financial report from the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Next week, I will include in the bulletin some key numbers and information outside of the fiscal report. I will be away Oct. 17-19 for military drill with Army Reserves. I also will be away Oct. 24-25 for the Good News Conference. I scheduled this conference before I received my new military schedule. My apologies for being away two straight weekends.
Happy 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time! Thank you to everyone for our donations to Missionary Co-op, KC tootsie roll drive and Guatemala water project. The missionary appeal will help to provide a well of clean water for them. FYI, this is the last weekend, for our collection for Eco-Filters for Guatemala. If you would like to donate, please use the envelopes in back and deposit them in the box. Each filter is $20. I stayed in Guatemala for 3 months back in 2013 and I can attest for the need especially in the small villages for clean water! These Eco-Filters are a great gift to so many. More information in the bulletin as well. This weekend, Sept 27-28, the Parish Center will be displaying the Eucharistic Miracle Display created by St. Carlo Acutis. More info on the website below. I encourage you to stop by after Mass and see them. They are poster boards with pictures and information on each Eucharistic Miracle throughout Church History. It is an impressive and informative display created by St. Carlo himself in 2006. https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/galleria/en/galleria.html Next Weekend, Oct. 4-5, I will be preaching at all the Masses and giving what I call the State of the Parish homily. I offer this homily just once a year annually. In the homily, I review the financial numbers from the previous fiscal year, discuss some future projects, and review parish numbers like baptisms, marriages, funerals, adult faith formation, youth formation, etc. Typically, it is a little longer homily, around 10-12 minutes due to the amount of information. Military Drill Nov. 15-16, no Dec drill
Happy 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time! A warm welcome to the CTK Class reunion of 1982. They will be joining us for Mass on Saturday. This weekend, we also welcome Fr. Linus Umoren. He is currently the Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul down in Waterloo, IL and serves as Mission Superior of Vincentians USA. He will be sharing about the Vincentians mission in his homily. His visit is part of the Missionary Cooperative Partnership that the Diocese does every summer. You will be seeing a couple items in the back of Church very soon. The following weekends of Sept. 20-21 and Sept 27-28, we are bringing the Eco-Filters for the Guatemala project back to CTK. Our last collection was in 2019 and we collected over $25,000 to purchase 782 water purifiers. If you would like to donate, please use the forms in back and deposit them in the box. Each filter is $20. I stayed in Guatemala for 3 months back in 2013 and I can attest for the need especially in the small villages for clean water! These Eco-Filters are a great gift to so many. More information in a bulletin insert coming up in future bulletins. Also on the weekend of Sept. 20-21, our local Knights of Columbus with have their annual Tootsie Roll Drive. They will be present in back of Church if you would like to donate. Proceeds from the drive assist local agencies who assist those with special needs. Finally, this week the Priests will be away for annual Convocation, September 16th through 18th. Deacon Scott Keen will offer Communion service those days at 7am. Military Drill Oct. 17-19, Nov. 15-16, no Dec drill
Happy 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time! This Sunday is one of great joy for the Church! We as Catholics celebrate two new saints! I personally have a great devotion to both Blessed Carlo and Blessed Pier Giorgio for several reasons that I will share in upcoming homilies and bulletins. Below is some great biographical information on them. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati / EWTN News By Courtney Mares Carlo Acutis: the first millennial saint Acutis, an Italian computer-coding teenager who died of cancer in 2006, is known for his great devotion to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He became the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church 2020 and is widely popular among Catholics, particularly youth. Known for his deep faith and digital savvy, he used his computer-coding skills to draw attention to Eucharistic miracles around the world. His miracles’ exhibit, featuring more than 100 documented miracles involving the Eucharist throughout history, has since traveled to thousands of parishes across five continents. The Vatican formally recognized a second miracle attributed to Acutis’ intercession on May 23, 2024. The case involved the healing of 21-year-old Valeria Valverde of Costa Rica, who sustained a serious brain injury in a bicycle accident while studying in Florence in 2022. She was not expected to survive but recovered after her mother prayed for Acutis’ intercession at his tomb in Assisi. Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Acutis attended daily Mass from a young age and was passionate about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Shortly after his first Communion at the age of 7, Carlo told his mother: “To always be united to Jesus: This is my life plan.” Carlo called the Eucharist “my highway to heaven,” and he did all in his power to make the real presence known. His witness inspired his parents to return to practicing the Catholic faith and his Hindu au pair to convert and be baptized. Many of Carlo’s classmates, friends, and family members testified to the Vatican how he brought them closer to God. He is remembered for saying, “People who place themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints.” Shortly before his death, Acutis offered his suffering from cancer “for the pope and for the Church” and expressed a desire to go “straight to heaven.” Known as a cheerful and kind child with a love for animals, video games, and technology, Acutis’ life has inspired documentaries, digital evangelization projects, and the founding of schools in his name. His legacy continues to resonate strongly with a new generation of Catholics. Pier Giorgio Frassati: ‘To the heights’ of holiness Frassati, who died at the age of 24 in 1925, is also beloved by many today for his enthusiastic witness to holiness that reaches “to the heights.” The young man from the northern Italian city of Turin was an avid mountaineer and Third Order Dominican known for his charitable outreach. Born on Holy Saturday, April 6, 1901, Frassati was the son of the founder and director of the Italian newspaper La Stampa. At the age of 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to taking care of the poor, the homeless, and the sick as well as demobilized servicemen returning from World War I. Frassati was also involved in the Apostleship of Prayer and Catholic Action. He obtained permission to receive daily Communion. On a photograph of what would be his last climb, Frassati wrote the phrase “Verso L’Alto,” which means “to the heights.” This phrase has become a motto for Catholics inspired by Frassati to strive for the summit of eternal life with Christ. Frassati died of polio on July 4, 1925. His doctors later speculated that the young man had caught polio while serving the sick. John Paul II, who beatified Frassati in 1990, called him a “man of the eight beatitudes,” describing him as “entirely immersed in the mystery of God and totally dedicated to the constant service of his neighbor.” The canonization Mass for Acutis and Frassati is expected to take place in St. Peter’s Square. Military Drill Oct. 17-19, Nov. 15-16, no Dec drill
Happy 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time! I pray that you have a blessed Labor Day Weekend with family and friends. Some folks have asked when I start with the Army Reserves. I officially received word this week of my unit. I start with my unit in Oct. My usual practice is to put my drill dates at the bottom of my column so that you know when I am away for military duty. In the bulletin, you see a message about Church security. It is common practice that most Catholic Parishes have a Church security of some sorts. We will have a short meeting on Sept 4 for anyone interested in joining the Church security team. Current members plus Ushers and Greeters are welcome to attend the meeting on Sept. 4. Next weekend, our local Knights of Columbus #364 is hosting their annual Oktoberfest on Sept. 6 from 12pm to 9pm. The festival features German bands, food, and games. The event benefits various charities in the community. Oktoberfest will be held on the Council grounds located at 2200 South Meadowbrook Road at Iles in Springfield. Christ the King Fall Bible Study is coming up on Sept. 11. See bulletin for details if you would like to join. The Bible Study will be using the Great Adventure Series from Ascension Press to explore the Gospel of St. Luke. Military Drill Oct. 17-19, Nov. 15-16, no Dec drill
Happy 21 st Sunday of Ordinary Time! Thank you again for the warm welcome to CTK. I am enjoying being here and getting more settled in each passing week. My apologies if I ask for your name again. I am working hard at getting names down, but it takes time. Over the next few weeks on Wednesdays, Dcn. Scott will be showing the Search Series by Chris Stefanick. I have personally watched the series and it is a great series that leads to wonder and awe of God. Anyone is welcome to join the series and if you know anyone interested in becoming Catholic invite them to join. Also, a warm welcome to the CTK Class of 1980. They are celebrating their 45 year reunion and joining us for Mass at 4:30pm this Saturday, touring the campus and gathering in the hall. Welcome home! Below are 5 biblical Values that I preached about last Sunday. These 5 Biblical Values allow us to be transformed by the Divine Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Worship Sunday Mass Daily Mass Personal Prayer Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation Formation Form our minds according to the mind of Christ through good Catholic books, podcasts, videos, etc. Strengthen our wills through Christ by fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and feasting on Sundays and other Solemnities and Feast days. Fellowship Devotion to the saints who are our brothers and sisters in Christ who inspire, encourage, and intercede for us. Good Christian friendships that inspire and encourage us to grow in our faith life with Jesus. Stewardship Living out our vocations in Christ and using our unique God-given gifts for God’s glory. Seeking to make a gift of my life to God through time, talent, and treasure. Evangelization Through my words and actions inviting others to friendship with Christ and His Church.
