Have you ever been surprised by the answer God gave to your prayers? Today's readings and homily help us understand the importance of praying for wisdom and joyfully accepting God's guidance.

Catholic Mass Readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 13, 2024

First Reading: Wisdom 7: 7-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 12-13
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 3
Gospel: Mark 10: 17-30

Greetings from Fr. Chuck! It's a blessing for me to share with you the homily I gave on Saturday, October 5, for the wedding Mass of Nchekube (AKA "Nche") Onyima and Oscar Brown. Nche (prounced "IN-chay") knew me in her preteen and teen years when I was Parochial Vicar from 2004 to 2010 at the parish in the greater Portland, OR, metro area where her family was—and still is—active. I have kept the recording of the voicemail she left for me a little over two years ago honoring me with the request/invitation to preside and preach at her wedding. She and Oscar needed that full two years of advance planning partly because they're both children of African immigrants and as such, have family all over Africa and in the African Diaspora worldwide—from Australia to China, for instance—who wished to participate in this joyous and sacred event!

Right now, download this episode or simply listen to learn why I tell them it's a good thing for Christian married couples to "Put Your Marriage before God." --Your brother in Christ, Fr. Chuck

Did you notice in today's readings and music that, "The heart keeps coming up?" In today's homily, Father Chuck tells of a recent experience which exemplifies the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm, "The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart." God shows us through His guidance that He knows what He's doing.

Catholic Mass readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 29, 2024

First Reading: Numbers 11: 25-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 8, 10, 12-13, 14
Second Reading: James 5: 1-6
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48