Pastor's Note| Fourth Sunday of Advent| December 22, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 12/20/19

Love is the theme of the Fourth Sunday of Advent. A good definition of love is in the name that we see in the first reading and again when the prophecy is fulfilled in the Gospel reading: Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." To have love is to ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| Third Sunday of Advent| December 15, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 12/13/19

Joy is the theme of the Third Sunday of Advent. As it says in the first reading, "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication to rescue you!" This is the reason for our joy. We have been ransomed from sin and its destruction; Jesus ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| Second Sunday of Advent| December 8, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 12/13/19

Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday of Advent. The first reading describes Christ the Messiah, who came from the line of Jesse, the father of King David. It also describes how to obtain peace -- a peace that sustains us even in the midst of troubles: "The ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| First Sunday of Advent| December 1, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 12/03/19

Hope is the theme of the First Sunday of Advent. In the readings for Mass, Isaiah describes a future in which all is well because (1) God is recognized as the highest authority and (2) obeying him is the people's highest priority.

            This vision gave great hope to ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King| November 24, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 11/21/19

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, one of the criminals hanging next to Jesus on the cross represents us. Jesus is our king and we want to spend eternity with him in his kingdom. As long as we have this attitude, there is no reason to doubt that when we ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time| November 17, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 11/15/19

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus says that the day will come when not one stone of the temple will be left mortared to another, because it will all be torn down. He's reminding us that everything here on earth is temporary.

Think of what you enjoy here on ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time| November 10, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 11/08/19

Do you believe in the resurrection? That's the question that Jesus indirectly poses when he challenges the Sadducees in this Sunday's Gospel reading.

As Christians, we believe that someday we will experience a resurrection like Christ's after we depart from this present earthly "age" or stage of life. All ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time| November 3, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 11/01/19

Notice the determination of Zacchaeus in this Sunday's Gospel reading. His view of Jesus was obstructed, but that didn't stop him from seeing Jesus. He had an obstacle (the crowd) and a handicap (his short stature), but he refused to allow any of this to prevent him from reaching ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time| October 27, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 10/25/19

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

            In this Sunday's Gospel reading, we see what happens when our primary motivation in whatever we do is not love but self-centeredness. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled." Sooner or later, self-exalting people get humbled, whether they realize it or not. They are ... Read More »

Pastor's Note| 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time| October 20, 2019

Posted by Parri Van Dyke on 10/18/19

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, God promises to secure the rights of his faithful ones who seek his justice. When we're abused, neglected, rejected, abandoned, or falsely accused, God comes to our rescue. And speedily, he says! What? He's not helping you fast enough? Is he breaking his promise ... Read More »