Sunday Reflections from the C.PP.S.
C.PP.S. Members share their reflections on Sunday readings
God Hears the Cry of the Poor
Fr. James Smith, C.PP.S. As I moved out to California this summer, one of the ways I encouraged friends to visit me was to inform them that I would be living within a short drive of wine country. Come visit me and we can do wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa, I...
Called to Self-Emptying Love
Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2: 5) By Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S. “I’ll have the wings, they are my favorite piece,” my mother would say as we were cutting up the chicken for dinner. As a child I never thought much of...
The Life of the Day Laborer
By Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. Our initial reaction to today’s parable about the laborers in the vineyard might be to say, “That’s not fair.” If those who worked only one hour received the usual daily wage it stands to reason that those who worked all day in the hot sun...
Comfortably on the “Good” Side
By Brother Matthew Schaefer, C.PP.S. How many times have we heard people who quit going to church talk about the hypocrisy of Christians? It has become almost a cliché. Yet it is an accusation that is hard to dispute. At Mass we faithfully admit our sinfulness; then...
There’s a Time for Confrontation
By Fr. Matt Keller, C.PP.S. First off, I must admit I am a human being and part of my humanity is that I am subject to making mistakes. I also have problems from time-to-time. Not only am I subject to making mistakes and having problems, but sometimes I am blind to...
Discipline is Required of Disciples
By Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S. What happens is, quite literally, scandalous. Jesus follows his granting of primacy to the freshly named Peter with the first prediction of his passion (and resurrection). In response Peter rebukes Jesus and says, “God forbid. Lord! No...
“Who Do You Say that I Am?”
By Fr. Harry Brown, C.PP.S. Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of God. And we all are linked to God as children of God. Yes, linked to Jesus. Probably the most important question in life is “Who do you say Jesus is?” (Mt 16:15) Do we live for Jesus or for...
Refusing to Give Up on Us
By Fr. James Smith, C.PP.S. I have had a number of jobs in my life, even at 35 (a hazard of the “gig econom,” I suppose). 2010 Census enumerator. Lifeguard. Swim instructor. Day camp counselor. Bartender. Summer events coordinator. The worst, by far, was the first job...
Mary Will Help Us to Heaven
By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S. Today we believe the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven body and soul. We to want to be in heaven with our Mother Mary. Like a good mother, Mary brought life into the world and she nurtured the life of her Son, Jesus. Jesus often...
Anything but Ordinary
By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. The liturgical calendar tells us that this is Ordinary Time, but this year, nothing is ordinary. We live in times unlike any other, with the corona virus and everything that comes with it. We have not gathered in any ordinary ways in a...
No Transaction is Necessary
By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. Our scripture readings today seek to focus our hearts and minds on the relationship of God with humanity and what it means for us to live faithfully in the covenant that God has given to us. In Isaiah we hear of the first covenant...
What is the Real Treasure?
By Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. It is abundantly clear that Jesus did not work for Wikipedia or Encyclopedia Britannica. If you want straight-forward information, or as Sgt. Joe Friday would say, “Just the facts, ma’am,” you would not want to ask Jesus. Jesus is more...
Living with the Weeds
By Brother Brian Boyle, C.PP.S. Have you ever started a project like planting a garden or even a whole crop? Or you might have installed a roof on your house? Or even something academic? A paper, a thesis or a dissertation? “Boy,” you think, “I’m doing a real bang-up...
Keep an Open Mind
By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. My mom had a repeated piece of advice to me, especially after I got ordained: keep an open mind. During the fourth summer after I was ordained, I was asked to go with a group from our parish visiting La Labor, Guatemala. The parish had...
Labor and Burden
By Fr. Jim Smith, C.PP.S. This weekend would have been one of parties and celebrations. In St. Henry, Ohio, where I have been in ministry the past four years, the village picnic is the weekend with or closest to the Fourth of July. Due to public health concerns with...
He Died for You and Me
Your Church, imbued with the Holy Spirit, basks in the glory of this mystery of love. (Preface, Solemnity of the Most Precious Blood) By Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S. The starting point of the spiritual life, particularly for Precious Blood people...
Precious to All
By the V. Rev. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. Today with the Church around the world, our Precious Blood family marks the Feast of the Most Precious Blood. I have been reflecting on the word “precious,” which to me has two meanings. It can mean rare and valuable, like a gem....
An Open and Generous Heart
By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. We have been reading from Chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel, which focuses on the mission of the disciples. Jesus directs them to announce, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Trusting in divine providence, they were not to take anything...
A Not So Humble Sparrow
By V. Rev. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. Today’s Gospel, as we return to Ordinary Time, includes the passage from Matthew where Jesus tells his disciples about their true value. A sparrow cannot fall from the sky without the Father knowing it, Jesus says. And as for us,...
A Demanding Gift
By Brother Matthew Schaefer, C.PP.S. I remember speaking to someone in one of my first RCIA classes who expressed discomfort at hearing chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. Apparently, this was never read in the scripture-heavy church that she was raised in. For her the...
Focus on the Relationship, Not the Mystery
By Fr. Matt Keller, C.PP.S. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Our God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons, yet one God. Holy Trinity is the name of one of the parishes in our pastoral region and they celebrate today’s solemnity...
Happy Birthday to the Church
By Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S. Today is traditionally regarded as the birthday of the Church, when the Holy Spirit descended upon those gathered in the upper room. Today is also when some churches once again open doors for the public celebrations of the liturgy (albeit...
We Rise with Christ
By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S. In the Diocese of Toledo we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today. We see Jesus ascending up into heaven in the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary and his apostles. Jesus was lifted up and a cloud took him from their sight. In today’s...
Get Busy!
By Fr. Harry Brown, C.PP.S. We pray in the Creed: “He ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father.” Today we are truly happy because Jesus went home—bodily—to his Father’s heavenly home. The scene in Acts is more or less his final apparition to...
The Risen Lord is With Us
By Fr. Al Spilly, C.PP.S. “I will not leave you orphans,” Jesus reassures his disciples at the Last Supper on the evening before his death. He says he will send them the Holy Spirit to guide their journey as they continue his mission and ministry in the world. During...
Filled with the Spirit and Wisdom
By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. In the Acts of the Apostles today, the apostles chose seven men filled with the Spirit and wisdom. See how far the apostles have come. In the Gospel today, the same apostles wonder, We do not know where you are going; how can we...
Listening for the Good Shepherd’s Voice
By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. The image of the Good Shepherd is popular and comforting. All of us can readily envision the picture of a kindly shepherd who is carrying the cute and cuddly lamb on his shoulders. Remembering and believing in a God who constantly...
Good Reaching Out to Good
By Brother Brian Boyle, C.PP.S. Over the last month we have been facing an uncertain future. There is a fear of our health system collapsing, our economy not just going into recession, but melting down. Millions of Americans filed for unemployment this past month. The...
Why Not Appear to Everyone?
By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. “God granted that [Jesus] be visible, not to all the people but to us” (Acts 10: 40-41). In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that Jesus appeared to his apostles and friends after his resurrection. He ate and drank as before, yet his body...
The Holding of Brokenness
By Fr. Jim Smith, C.PP.S. “So, what did you see on vacation?” I have a tendency to veer towards live theater, especially with deep discounts. Recapping what I saw on vacation months ago, I mentioned that two of the shows really were technically one show, spread over...
