Sunday Reflections from the C.PP.S.
C.PP.S. Members share their reflections on Sunday readings
Which of These Three Was Neighbor?
It is so easy for us to gloss over this phrase at the end of the story, but it is one that requires we stop and pay attention. The scholar could have simply said “the Samaritan” but he so hated Samaritans, that he couldn’t even bring himself to say the word. We all...
Peace in the Midst of the World
Recently I went on a week-long retreat to a Benedictine monastery. My goal for the week was simple—peace. Peace from work, from obligations, from noise, from news, from traffic, from the internet. Peace for time with God, time to listen to the yearnings of my soul,...
Your blood, O Lord, is the source of life
A message for the Solemnity of the Precious Blood from our Provincial Director Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. Blood is very ambiguous. It can point to life and to death. Blood spilled in violence on our streets is a powerful sign of evil and death. In our world...
No Excuses
By Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S. In today’s Gospel, we see the apostles of Jesus, James and John, wanting to call an airstrike on a Samaritan village. We read, “On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him...
The Re-Membering of Christ
By Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S. Many of our “mature” readers may recall carrying photos of loved ones in our wallets or purses. These have become obsolete. Now we carry lots of photos on our phones. These photos remind us of cherished memories, of loved ones and...
Seeing with the Eyes of Faith
Fr. Al Spilly, C.PP.S. Although we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross every day, it may remain disconnected from our experience. God the Father is a gentle, loving shepherd. We experience this early in our lives when older people show us mercy, compassion,...
When We Need It the Most
By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. A mighty wind or a gentle breath, the Spirit comes as it wills. Sometimes a mighty wind that opens shuttered windows and locked doors and fills the frightened with new courage sending the silent into the streets with loud voices that...
Our Transformation is God’s Doing
By Fr. Jim Smith, C.PP.S. This feast of the Ascension centers, at least in our imagination I would expect, largely on where Jesus goes as he is parted from them. There are wonderful paintings and stained glass windows attempting to depict it, but none of the classical...
Living into the Vision
By Fr. Matt Keller, C.PP.S. Are we are who we say we are? Or do the actions of our lives reflect something different about who we really are? I do and I do not like these questions. What I do not like about these questions is the wording. There is just something...
What Else Would a Mom Do?
Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians Memorial observance for the C.PP.S. and the ASC By Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. My parish growing up in Fort Recovery, Ohio was dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. As a kid I don’t remember ever being confused about the title. If...
What’s New?
By Fr. Jim Dugal, C.PP.S. What’s new? Most of us have been asked that question upon meeting someone. How have you answered? I find myself saying, "not much," or "nothing." You parents have probably heard this when you asked your teen, "What happened in school today?”...
The Bond Between the Shepherd and Us
By V. Rev. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S. There seems to be an overarching theme in the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. In one way or another the image of sheep comes up in the readings. In the Psalm we sing that “We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” In the...
The Test of Love
“A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it, A song's not a song 'til you sing it. Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, Love isn't love 'til you give it away!” Brother Matt Schaefer, C.PP.S. These lyrics from The Sound of Music may sound sentimental (they’re...
Poor Thomas, Doubting Thomas
Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. Poor Thomas, doubting Thomas, he gets such a bad rap. Almost everyone thinks he doubted the Lord, yet he never doubted what his own eyes could see. He wasn't there the first time Jesus appeared after the resurrection. But when he returned,...
Running Toward Grace and Love
By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. Growing up, I would visit my Grandma Knepper during the summer and sometimes mow her lawn. While taking breaks, she would make lemonade and invite me in to sit down and chat with her about how my life was going or what was going on in her...
Jesus’ Sacrifice Sustains Us
By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S. Today’s celebration, “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord,” holds together two extremes, Jesus who is acclaimed King and Jesus who is the Paschal Lamb of God who gave his life for the salvation of the world. Many Catholic homes honor...
Go and Sin No More
Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. John 8:7 By Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S. When I was in parish ministry, I would be asked by parishioners about the morality of a particular choice. In some cases, they were asking for...
The Father Always Takes Us Back
By Fr. Harry Brown, C.PP.S. Laetare! Rejoice! The theme for this Mass is that “God has reconciled us to himself through Christ.” Salvation cannot be bought with good works. In leading a Christian life, it is the reason why one does so that really counts. Indeed love...
“Where is God Now?”
By Fr. Tim McFarland, C.PP.S. The scripture readings, especially the first reading and the Gospel, pose some of the “ultimate questions” of life. Moses in the first reading goes to the holy mountain of Horeb (or Sinai), a place where God spoke to the people. Moses...
Belief Without Seeing
We may not know everything about our faith or have everything spelled out about what we believe but we are still called to believe. We can believe without knowing everything. How much are you willing to trust Jesus and his Church?
The Deep Hunger Inside Us
In the wave of firsts as a newly-ordained, baby priest, mistakes and errors are quite common. Not doing this right, forgetting to do that thing. Usually, I become aware of these errors at inopportune moments, usually toward the end of a Mass.
Anything but Rotten
By Fr. Dennis Chriszt, C.PP.S. At first look, the plum tree in our backyard when I was a child looked like a rotten tree. But the plums it produced were wonderful to eat. At harvest time, my mother would make plum dumplings. This was one of only two recipes from her...
Authentic Discipleship
By Al Spilly, C.PP.S. When Jesus calls disciples and sends them on mission, he requires certain things of them. Naturally, he does not assume that they will be abusers or victimizers. Rather, from time to time they will be the victims of others’ curses and other...
Depend on God to Find Peace
In this Sunday’s reading, Jeremiah is not suggesting that we should stop depending upon each other. He is reminding the Israelites not to be lured into the charms of other nations which are traps. Israel had made poor decisions by trusting the Egyptian and Assyrian kingdoms, and paid for it.
Any Volunteers?
By Fr. Jim Dugal, C.PP.S. During World War I, there was a secret message that had to be sent to the front lines. They could not take a chance that the enemy would intercept it, so they asked if anyone would volunteer for this dangerous mission. One man stepped forward...
Sister Adorer of the Blood of Christ
By Fr. William Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. On the feast of St. Maria De Mattias, the Church offers for our reflection a very familiar passage from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. In fact, it is part of the reading that we heard on Sunday. In the passage we hear the...
Trust Leads to Love
By Fr. Tim Knepper, C.PP.S. In the Knepper household, when I was growing up, the radio would usually be tuned to adult contemporary or “pop” radio. Often my mom would listen to the Carpenters. One of her favorite songs was “I Need to be in Love.” Mom would tell me to...
The Shortest Homily
The liturgy today details two homecomings and it features the longest continuous scripture reading and the shortest homily.
The Beginning of Belief
By Br. Matt Schaefer, C.PP.S. "...And his disciples began to believe him." A simple statement at the end of a straightforward and familiar story. But this nascent belief, as unsteady as a toddler's first steps, started a movement. It was enough to keep these first...
You are God’s Beloved
Here is my chosen one with whom I am well pleased. (Isaiah 42:1) You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22) By Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S. While the words cited above refer to and were spoken to Jesus specifically, our faith tells us that they...