"Vigilance and Hope" by Fr. Chris House

This Sunday’s readings invite us to reflect on themes of generosity, trust, and the true value of our offerings before God. The readings highlight the difference between outward appearances and the deeper intentions of the heart, particularly in the way we give of ourselves, whether in material gifts, time, or service. Jesus, in the Gospel, points to the humble, sacrificial giving of a poor widow as an example of what true generosity looks like. In our first reading from the First Book of Kings, we encounter the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. During a severe famine, Elijah arrives at the widow's home and asks for water and bread. The widow is preparing to make her final meal for herself and her son, as she believes that they are about to die from hunger. But Elijah asks her to first make a small cake for him, promising that if she does, her jar of flour and her jug of oil will not run out until the famine ends. This story illustrates deep trust in God, even in a moment of scarcity and despair. The widow, having little left, still chooses to offer what she has. Her generosity is not out of abundance, but out of trust that God will provide. Her actions show us that true generosity comes from faith in God's providence, not from our own comfort or security. She is a model of a sacrificial trust that God will take care of her, even when the odds are stacked against her. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus observes the behavior of the people in the temple. He points out the difference between those who give out of their surplus and the widow who gives her last two coins, her entire livelihood. While others are putting in large sums from their abundance, the widow’s offering is small in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God, it is far greater because it is all she has. Jesus commends the widow because she has given everything she has to live on. Her offering is not just a financial one, but a spiritual one. She places her trust in God, knowing that He alone is the true source of her security. Unlike the scribes, who love to be seen as religious by displaying their wealth, the widow’s quiet, humble offering speaks volumes about her faith and love for God. In this context, Jesus teaches us that God does not measure the size of our gifts in the same way that the world does. What matters to God is the heart behind the gift. The widow’s offering was sacrificial; she gave from her need, not her excess. It challenges us to consider how we offer our own gifts, not just materially, but with our time, talents, and energy. Finally, our reading from the Letter to the Hebrews provides a profound insight into the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The author contrasts the repeated sacrifices in the Old Testament with the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ. Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary, offering His own blood for the redemption of humanity, and by His sacrifice, He has secured eternal salvation for all who trust in Him. Just as the widow’s offering in the Gospel was an act of total self-giving, Jesus’ sacrifice was the ultimate act of self-giving. He gave His life for the salvation of the world. And unlike the priests of the Old Testament, whose sacrifices were repeated and ultimately ineffective, Jesus’ sacrifice was final and sufficient. It opened the way to eternal life, reconciling humanity with God. The comparison between the widow’s offering and Christ’s sacrifice calls us to examine our own lives. Are we willing to offer ourselves fully to God? Our Lord does not ask for perfection or wealth, but for hearts that are willing to give of themselves completely. His grace enables us to make these sacrifices in faith, trusting that, like the widow of Zarephath and the widow in the temple, God will provide what we need. So, what does all of this mean for us today? In a world that often values power, wealth, and success, the Scriptures today challenge us to think about the true meaning of generosity. We are invited to ask ourselves: How do we offer our gifts to God? Are we giving out of our abundance, or are we willing to give even when it costs us something? Our giving is not just about money—it is about offering our time, our talents, our hearts in service to God and others. Do we trust in God’s providence? Just as the widow of Zarephath trusted that God would provide, are we willing to trust God with the little that we have, knowing that He will take care of us? Are we living sacrificially? Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross shows us what true love and generosity look like. As His disciples, we are called to imitate that sacrificial love in our daily lives. Let us reflect on the example of the widow in today’s Gospel. May we, like her, offer our lives fully to God, trusting that He will provide for all our needs. Let us remember that true generosity is not about the quantity of our gifts, but about the quality of our hearts. In giving ourselves to God, we open ourselves to receive the fullness of His grace. Let us pray that, like the widow, we may always trust in God's providence and be willing to give of ourselves, even when it seems difficult. May we offer our lives as a living sacrifice, knowing that in God's eyes, even the smallest act of love and faith can have eternal significance. Mass of Remembrance – Thank you Once again we celebrated a beautiful Mass of Remembrance on All Souls Day, offering the best that we can, the holy Mass, for our loved ones and parishioners who have gone before us in faith. Thank you to the many volunteers who made it happen! Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

More Than A Feeling In this Sunday’s Gospel, we witness a profound moment where Jesus is asked a question meant to reveal the heart of the law: “Which commandment is the first of all?” In His answer, Jesus sums up all of the commandments, saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Then, He adds, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commandments are inseparable and serve as a foundational element of our Christian faith. Jesus calls us to a love that is not partial but complete. To love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength means that God must be at the center of our lives. This is not about just saying prayers or attending Mass on Sundays but it is about integrating our faith into every part of who we are. Our decisions, our work, our interactions with others, and even our thoughts are places where we can express this love for God. In many ways, this command challenges us because it demands that we move beyond superficial faith. It asks us to examine where we place our trust, our energy, and our time. Are we prioritizing our relationship with God? Do we see Him as our true strength and foundation? Or do we let other distractions take the place where only God should be? The second part of Jesus’ response is equally challenging: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving our neighbor as ourselves means treating others with the dignity, compassion, and mercy we would desire. It means seeing others as God sees them, acknowledging their worth, and recognizing their humanity. In the world around us, we encounter countless people, some are easy to love, and others not necessarily so. Yet Jesus asks us to look past divisions and see our neighbors through the eyes of God. His call is to forgive those who hurt us, to care for the needy and the most vulnerable, and to show kindness even if those who need that kindness make it hard. When we love our neighbor, we make visible the love of God in the world. Jesus does not separate love of God from love of neighbor. He intertwines them so completely that they have become inseparable. We are taught in the First Letter of John, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). This is why Jesus calls these the greatest commandments. To truly love God, we must love our neighbor, and to truly love our neighbor, we must love God. Each time we show charity (love) for another, we draw closer to God, and each time we draw closer to God, we grow in love for those around us. Love is more than a feeling or emotion; it is an active choice, a daily decision to live as the Lord Jesus commands us. The Gospel invites us to examine our own lives. Are we striving to love God with our whole being? Are we actively showing love and compassion to our neighbors, especially those most in need? The world needs witnesses of this love; a love that heals, forgives, and unites. Let us pray for the grace to live out these commandments, asking God to help us grow in love for Him and for one another. May we become instruments of His love in a world that desperately needs it, carrying His light to all those we meet. Holy Hour for Vocations Next Sunday, November 10 th , CTK will be hosting the Springfield deanery’s holy hour for vocations. The holy hour will begin in the church at 6:30PM with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Please come and pray for all those who are discerning God’s call in their lives, whatever it may be, especially those who are discerning a call to sacred order or the religious life. Speaking of loving one another… This Tuesday is election day and the reality is that come Wednesday (or whenever the election is called), just about half of the country won’t be happy. Politics is not an exception to the Gospel. Loving God means also loving my neighbor whose politics are different than mine; I don’t have to agree with my neighbor, in fact I can believe that my neighbor is completely wrong, but I still must love my neighbor. Say some extra prayers for our nation this week, particularly for peace and civility. This may sound cliché, but it’s true: in the end, whether the donkey or the elephant wins, each of us still belongs to the Lamb. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

Apparently James and John, the sons of Zebedee, don’t get it. In last week’s Gospel, Mark recounted for us the story of the rich man who came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life; James and John were there. This man had lived a relatively good life by all accounts by keeping the commandments, but the Lord asked him to surrender what was most precious to him: his wealth. The Lord asked the rich man to place his treasure in the service of the poor, but the man was not able to detach himself from this one thing and this prevented him from following Jesus. Detachment can be a very difficult virtue to master. As disciples, we are called to live in this world without becoming entrenched in it through anything that it offers, material or immaterial. Detachment does not mean that we do not value people or things in this world but that we value God and life with him over anything and everyone else. This Sunday’s Gospel passage follows immediately after the story of the rich young man, both in the tenth chapter of Mark. While the story of the rich man is a good example of the necessity for detachment from the material world, we see in the request made by James and John a good example for the need for detachment from immaterial things also. "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left," ask James and John. What then follows is our Lord’s admonition to his Apostles, and to us, not to seek glory as the world understands it. James and John most likely did not yet understand heavenly glory. For the disciple, ultimate glory is given through the cross: first through our Lord’s own suffering and death and, secondly, through our own willingness to accept our crosses daily as pathways to the Kingdom. The Lord invites his Apostles to humble themselves; humility embraces the virtue of detachment. It seeks the good of self after God and neighbor. Humility moves us to rely on God’s goodness and grace, helping us to understand that this life is not about us and that our will must be united with God’s will. October is the month of the Rosary. If you want to grow in the virtues of humility and detachment, praying the Rosary is one avenue to help achieve this goal. The cornerstone of the Rosary is meditating on the mysteries of salvation as presented in the Lord’s life and in the life of Mary our Blessed Mother. In between those mediations is the praying of the “Hail Mary,” the Rosary’s principal prayer. Mary is the model of humility and detachment, and she remains for us, and the Church, a great intercessor to help us grow in those graces. James and John continued to seek glory, but, through their own growth in discipleship, they came to seek the glory of heaven. They ultimately chose the Lord’s glory through their own crosses and sacrifices for Christ, the proclamation of the Gospel, and the building up of the early Church. We are also invited to seek glory, but not in any form offered by this world. At the end of her life, Mary was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven and given a share in God’s glory by being crowned Queen of the Universe. By holding nothing back from the Lord and by offering everything to him and for him, Mary gained ultimate glory from her son; a glory that can never fade, be lost, or taken away. The Lord Jesus offers the same glory to us if we are willing to carry our own cross, united with him. Respect Life Month October is Respect Life Month. We do not have to look far to find a sea of comments and opinions concerning the right to life but there is ultimately only one opinion, one truth that matters. Let us not lose sight of what God has said through his holy word: “before I formed you in the womb, I knew you (Jeremiah 1:5);” “can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you (Isaiah 49:15-16);” “you (Lord) formed my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14).” As Catholics, we must always stand for the unquestionable truth that human life is sacred and for the fact that it must always be defended, especially the life of the unborn who are the most innocent and the most vulnerable among us. Standing for this truth will not always be popular, but this is not about popularity, personal philosophies, or political ideologies, it is about a divine truth written into the natural law that life is sacred because life is both an act and a gift of God. As God’s people we are called to embrace the Gospel of Life in the face of a culture of death. In all that we think, say, and do, we must strive to build a culture of life. In the Book of Deuteronomy, the Lord says to Moses and to the people “I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him (30:19).” Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

In this Sunday’s Gospel from Mark, we hear the story of a rich young man who runs up to Jesus and asks Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus lists the commandments, and the young man responds that he has kept all of these since his youth. Then, looking at him with love, Jesus tells him, “You are lacking in one thing: Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The man goes away sad because he has many possessions. This Gospel invites us to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus and the cost of discipleship. The rich young man was sincere in his desire for eternal life. He followed the commandments, lived a morally upright life, and wanted to know what more he could do. But when Jesus asked him to give up his wealth, the man became sad because his attachment to his possessions was too great. Jesus uses this encounter to teach His disciples that wealth and worldly attachments can be obstacles to entering the kingdom of God. He says, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” This statement would have been shocking to the disciples, as wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s favor. Yet, Jesus challenges this thinking and emphasizes that it is not the possessions themselves, but the attachment to them that can hinder our relationship with God. Jesus invites the rich young man to let go of his possessions, not as a punishment, but as a way to free his heart for a deeper relationship with God. His wealth had become a barrier between him and the kingdom. Similarly, each of us has something that may be holding us back from fully following Jesus. It might not be wealth, but it could be pride, fear, selfishness, or a lack of trust in God’s providence. The Lord Jesus calls each of us to examine our hearts and to ask ourselves, “What is standing between me and God? What am I holding on to that prevents me from giving myself fully to Christ?” Letting go is difficult, but Jesus assures us that whatever we give up for His sake, we will receive back a hundredfold. This is a promise not of material wealth, but of the rich and abundant life found in a deep relationship with God. The disciples are understandably confused and ask, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus responds, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Salvation is not something we can earn by our own efforts or merit. It is a gift of God’s grace. What seems impossible for, such as letting go of our attachments, living selflessly, and putting God first in everything, is made possible by God’s transforming grace. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom echoes this theme of choosing what is most important in life. The author prays for wisdom and declares that he prefers her to scepters and thrones, considering riches as nothing compared to wisdom. The wisdom of God leads us to true understanding, helping us to see life from a proper perspective, and guiding us to seek the things that truly matter, things that last into eternity. This Sunday’s readings challenge us to examine our lives and ask ourselves what we value most. Are we willing to let go of anything that prevents us from fully following Jesus? The rich young man went away sad because he could not part with his wealth, but Jesus offers us a different path: a path of freedom, joy, and eternal life, if we are willing to trust Him and let go of what holds us back. Let us ask God for the wisdom to see what truly matters and the courage to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Let us pray for the grace to respond to Jesus’ invitation with open hearts, trusting that with God, all things are possible. Pilgrimage Information Meeting This coming May I will be co-leading a Marian pilgrimage to Portugal, France, and Spain with Father Michael Friedel from Blessed Sacrament Parish. Flyers are available in the parish office for anyone who is interested. Father Michael and I will be having an information meeting on Sunday, October 27th, at 1:30PM in the lower meeting room of the parish office at Blessed Sacrament, 1725 South Walnut Street. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

This is a challenging Gospel to succinctly comment on in a bulletin article or a homily. Along with being pastor of CTK, I also serve as vicar judicial of the diocese which means that I sit as head of the diocesan tribunal in the name of the bishop so this Gospel has special pertinence for my ministry. Mark’s Gospel this Sunday gives us Jesus’s teaching on divorce; Mark’s account is the oldest of the four Gospel writers concerning marriage. What does Mark’s text teach us as the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus using the Mosaic Law? The Pharisees ask Jesus if divorce is lawful; we must be attentive to the phrases that follow. Jesus asks the Pharisees what Moses commanded while the Pharisees reply with what Moses permitted . Jesus preaches against divorce, and since it was only allowed by Moses, Jesus cannot be condemned as speaking against the law. Jesus easily thwarts the attempt to entrap him but he goes further in his discourse on the question of divorce, not just giving a simple “no” to the question. Jesus, invoking Genesis, speaks of man and woman becoming one flesh in marriage. We see in the Old Testament that marriage is symbolic of the covenant relationship between God and his people. In the New Testament, St. Paul speaks of marriage as a sacramental sign of Christ’s relationship with the Church. The marriage bond is sacred because it is a living sign of God’s love that is both irrevocable and self-giving. Jesus then goes further in Mark’s Gospel stating that whoever divorces their spouse, and marries another, commits adultery. The Church understands and teaches that marriage between two persons who are baptized, Catholic or not, takes on the quality of indissolubility (unless non-consummated), meaning that no power under heaven can undo what God has joined; no external power can undo the union and neither party in the marriage can withdraw their consent. Marriages that are between a baptized person and a non-baptized, or between two unbaptized, are still seen as valid by the Church, but, in certain very limited circumstances, can be set aside if one party leaves the marriage. Concerning the question of divorce, the Church sees it as a civil matter. The Church recognizes that a civil divorce can have civil effects but the act of divorce itself does not affect a person’s status in the Church; however, divorce and remarriage outside of the auspices of the Church does affect a person’s status in the Church. In reading this you might be saying to yourself “well, annulments in the Church are just Catholic divorce;” actually, no. First, we often use the wrong term. An annulment is a declaration that dissolves something. An ecclesiastical tribunal (church court) in examining marriage cases does not grant annulments but may issue what is called a declaration of nullity by which a marriage is declared to have been null and void from the beginning due to either an impediment to the marriage itself or due to invalid consent on the part of one or both parties in the marriage. The nullity process in a tribunal does not look to assign blame or guilt to anyone regarding a failed marriage, but looks for what the truth of the matter is and whether or not a valid marriage bond was created at the time of consent between the couple. I cannot stress enough that those who have suffered a divorce are not “second class citizens” in the Church and they should not be treated as such. A person who is divorced is not barred from any aspect of the Church’s life, sacramental or otherwise; this is a wide-spread misunderstanding among Catholics that has caused great pain and alienation for some. Yes, if a Catholic is divorced and remarried outside of the Church without a declaration of nullity then they are to refrain from Holy Communion, but the Church can work with them in the hope of regularizing their situation. If you have any further questions on divorce, marriage nullity, or remarriage in the Church, please do not hesitate to contact me, Fr. Alex, or Deacon Scott. Praying for the Victims of Hurricane Helene Many of us have been shocked with the news and images that have come not just out of Florida but in other states as well especially North Carolina concerning the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene and the subsequent flooding. One commentator said earlier this week that you do not expect the situation to be getting worse several days after the storm but that is what has happened in many parts of the southeast coastal region. While nothing has been announced yet at the time I am writing this, generally the bishops of the United States will call for a special collection. Let us continue to pray for the recovery of those who have been affected by Helene. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

Sin, Despair, & Hope As October approaches, this is the usual time of the year that I make time to watch the movie The Exorcist ; some may find that odd but as its director, the late William Friedkin, said of the movie, it’s more of a theological thriller than a horror movie. This year I’ve decided to go for the book instead of the movie. I first read the book when I was in seminary at Mundelein in 1998, at the time of the 25 th anniversary of the movie’s release; as with many stories, the book is more detailed (and frightening) than the movie. The story, written by William Peter Blatty, focuses on a twelve-year-old girl who is possessed by a demon and the investigation that ultimately leads to two Jesuit priests performing a major exorcism for her deliverance. The book itself was inspired by actual events concerning a Lutheran boy in Silver Spring, Maryland whose family turned to the Catholic Church for help. The quest for help eventually took them to the Jesuits in St. Louis, Missouri where the boy (a girl in the book and movie) was delivered from the power of demonic forces after a major exorcism in 1949; the process of exorcism took weeks to perform. One of the most striking scenes in the movie is when the two Jesuit priests take a break in the midst of performing the needed exorcism. During this break, the younger priest, who has been having his own crisis of faith, asks the older priest why a twelve-year-old girl; the older priest responds “to make us despair.” At the beginning of the Scriptures in the Book of Genesis we see that it is the devil who tempts us to turn inward on ourselves and away from God; that is the definition of sin. Daily we are tempted to serve ourselves, our wants, our desires, to be the ultimate end in ourselves. Let’s be clear: the devil does not make any of us sin; we make the choice ourselves even though the devil may give the invitation. Sin directly separates us from God when a sin is ours, when it is the result of our own action or inaction. Sin can also attempt to separate us from God when it is the sin of someone else and we are moved to despair. This phenomenon can be especially profound with the reality of sin in the Church. We see evil committed by others and some run the danger of losing hope and falling into despair, which then can ultimately lead us to despairing of the goodness and love of God. The Lord gives us strong words in this Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark: if your hand, foot, or eye are going to keep you from entering into heaven then get rid of them. The Lord Jesus is telling us that there is nothing in this life, be it material things, relationships, pleasures, behaviors, whatever, that are worth risking the gift and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven. We are also warned sternly to be on guard that we do not lead anyone else into sin because the punishment for that will be severe. Our sins separate us from God and they can also be a catalyst to separate others from him too. We must be on guard to seek the good, to seek the things of heaven, to seek God in all that we do. Personal sin can lead us to despair by falling into the trap of believing that we are unforgivable. The reality of evil itself can lead us to despair by questioning why God would let such things happen. As disciples, we are called to never lose hope: hope in the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness in our own lives and in the lives of others; hope that the grace of God can effect true change in our lives through conversion; hope in the fact that God is alive and at work in the world and that his sacred act of our redemption is on-going. When faced with the power of sin, when tempted to lose hope because of evil in the world, let us always remember the words emblazoned under our Lord in the image of Divine Mercy: Jesus, I trust in You ! A Prayer for First-Responders This Sunday, September 29 th , is the feast of the Archangels Ss. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. It is customary on this day to remember those who serve in our community as first-responders, be they police, fire, or other emergency personnel. For them, I invite us all to offer the following prayer: Merciful Father, I ask you through the Archangels, Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, to watch over and protect all of the men and women who so generously devote themselves to helping others. Grant them courage when afraid, wisdom when they must make quick decisions, strength when weary, and compassion in all their work. When the alarm sounds and they are called to aid both friend and stranger, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbors. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint. The quote is from Leon Bloy, a Catholic writer from France who died in the early 20 th century. It’s a great quote; simple yet profound. For the past few Sundays, we have been hearing from the Letter of James in the second reading at Mass. A lot of times the second reading doesn’t get too much attention from preachers because it stands alone while the first reading, the Psalm, and the Gospel generally share a unifying theme. We do not know who “James” was. Scholars are not sure if he was one of the Apostles who shared that name or another James named by St. Paul in the New Testament who is also referred to as the “brother of the Lord.” The Letter of James really is not a letter either, at least not in the style of the other letters in the New Testament. James is written more in the style of the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament and has three main sections: the value of trials and temptations, warnings and exhortations, and on the power of prayer. This Sunday’s reading from James comes from the section on warnings and exhortations. James warns us of the danger of seeking the wrong things out of life. He uses the term “passions” for the search for wrong pleasures. Pleasure is not a bad thing; in fact, pleasure can be derived from doing what is right, good, and holy. Pleasure can be found in prayer and in acting/living in a way that is ordered to the glory of God and the good of neighbor. The pleasures that James warns about, the passions, are those things that are only ends in themselves, those that are purely self-serving. These are destructive because they can lead people to unhealthy and unholy behaviors, driving people deeper into the need to serve themselves, their own wants, and agendas, which in turn lead to disorder in our lives and in the greater world. The question that James is asking us in this Sunday’s second reading is this: in my life, am I seeking the good things of God and his kingdom or am I seeking myself and the things of this world…power, honor, pleasure, wealth? Most of the time we probably do not think of this in our daily living but as disciples we must reflect on where our choices are leading us: deeper into ourselves or into deeper relationship with the Lord? James would tell us that there is nothing wrong in seeking pleasures, accomplishments, and enjoyment in life, as long as those things are ordered towards God. We must never evaluate our lives by the world’s standards; we must evaluate our lives with heaven as the ultimate goal. By baptism we have been made heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven; all that we seek should be ordered to that calling. In the end, whether or not we become saints, whether or not our eternal citizenship is in heaven, is the only success or failure that will matter. Pilgrimage 2025 I have been asked if there will be another pilgrimage next summer. The answer is yes but I do not have all the details yet. The pilgrimage will have a Marian focus with visits to Fatima, Lourdes, and Montserrat as well as other locations. The dates for the pilgrimage are tentatively set for May 26 to June 6. A flyer will be available in the office once I get more information from the tour company. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

When I was in major seminary, my next door neighbor once told me a story of his former bishop who was in the hospital dying of cancer. His bishop was visited by the local archbishop who was the head of their province. He recounted that the archbishop came into the room and sat down next to the dying bishop. The archbishop began his visit by asking a question: “do you trust?” “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks the Apostles in this Sunday’s Gospel as recorded by St. Mark. Jesus poses the question to each of us, also. He is not looking for an answer from the Catechism or an answer that you can search for on Google. Jesus demands a personal response from every one of us, one rooted in trust. An honest read of the Gospels lets us know that there is no “fine print” with Jesus’s invitation to us to be his disciples. The Gospels are perfect examples of full disclosure; this is demonstrated this Sunday when Jesus not only asks such a pointed question but then states what those who want to be true disciples must be willing to embrace: the cross. However, that full disclosure is not just about hardship and sacrifice. The Gospels also tell us about the love, the life, the grace, and the mercy that Jesus wants us to know and possess in and through him. Making that personal statement that Jesus is Lord and Messiah means going “all in” for Christ. To offer all to and for Christ can be rather intimidating, but, as the Lord repeatedly says, do not be afraid! Saint Francis Xavier Seelos once said “no one was ever lost because his sin was too great, but because his trust was too small.” Do we trust in the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Do we trust in his power to change us and make us new? Do we trust in his power to save? Jesus’s question of “who do you say that I am?” presupposes trust if we are to answer the same as Saint Peter. Our total trust and reliance must be in and on the Lord Jesus. That trust is proven in our willingness to hold nothing back from him. We want to see the world renewed, the Church renewed, and ourselves renewed. This can and will happen, but if not in and through Jesus Christ then in and through whom? Annual Priests’ Convocation This coming week, Monday afternoon thru Thursday afternoon, Fr. Alex and I will be in Collinsville for our annual priests’ convocation. Masses will be offered next week on Monday and Friday with Communion services on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Adoration and benediction will be the same on Wednesday. The parish office will be open as normal to assist anyone’s needs. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House

Be open! This Sunday’s Gospel tells us of Jesus traveling through the region of the Decapolis, a largely Gentile area, where people bring to him a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. They beg Jesus to lay his hand on him. Jesus takes the man aside from the crowd, places his fingers in the man's ears, and touches his tongue with his own saliva. He then looks up to heaven, sighs deeply, and says, “ Ephphatha ,” meaning "Be opened." Immediately, the man’s ears are opened, and he begins to speak clearly. Though Jesus asks the people to keep this miracle quiet, they cannot help but spread the news of his deeds. The word ephphatha is powerful not only in the immediate context of the man's physical healing but also symbolically. This command from Jesus is a call for spiritual openness. We, too, are called to open our ears to God's word and our hearts to his love. Often, we are deafened by the noise of the world, our prejudices, and our fears. Jesus invites us to be open to his grace, which can heal our spiritual deafness and loosen our tongues to proclaim his goodness. The man’s healing is followed by an immediate reaction from the people; despite Jesus’ instructions to keep quiet, they proclaim what they have seen. This mirrors the Christian life: once we have encountered the transformative power of Christ, we cannot keep it to ourselves. Our lives should become a testimony to his healing power, drawing others to him through our witness. The setting of this miracle in the Decapolis, a Gentile region, underscores that Jesus’ mission is not limited to the Jewish people but extends to all nations. The healing of the deaf and mute man symbolizes the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles, showing that the Good News of salvation is for everyone. This challenges us to reflect on our own openness to those who are different from us, encouraging us to embrace and share the Gospel with all people. In our lives, we are called to respond to Jesus' invitation to "be opened." This means listening more attentively to God's voice in our daily lives, whether through prayer, Scripture, or the sacraments. It also means being open to the needs of others, responding with compassion and action as Jesus did. Lastly, it challenges us to be bold witnesses to the Gospel, not keeping our faith private, but letting it shine forth in our words and deeds. Let us ask for the grace to be truly open to God's will, to the needs of our neighbors, and to the mission of spreading the Good News. May our ears be opened to hear God's word, and may our tongues be loosened to proclaim his love to the world. Buon Viaggio Father Troy! Father Troy’s two month stay with us here at CTK is at its end. He departs on Monday for some personal and family time before heading back to Rome to finish his advanced studies in dogmatic theology. I am grateful for his presence at the altar as well as the camaraderie that he brought to me and Father Alex. We wish him safe travels, the best in his studies, and God’s grace and blessing in all things. Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead! Father Chris House