Twentieth Sunday after Trinity, November 2nd, 2025

 

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity, November 2nd, 2025

In the Twenty-Second chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, we hear Our Blessed Saviour comparing Heaven to a king who is throwing a wedding feast for his son:  "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come." (St. Matthew 22:1)  The problem is that the invited guests would not come to the wedding.  The guests would either simply ignore the invitation or reject it outright.  As Our Lord continues His parable, He states:  "But (the invited guests) made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise"  (St. Matthew 22:5)  Judging from this parable that Our Lord spoke, people back then were not that much different from people nowadays.  How many of us simply go our own way without any thought of God?  How many of us make light of God's invitation because we do not have the time  . . .  we are too busy doing "our own thing" . . . . we would rather be doing something else . . . . we could care less . . .  .  We need to make the time.  We need to find the time.  We need to make God a priority in our life.  Our Lord stated:  "In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you."  (St. John 14:2)  Our Lord is preparing a place for us but the question is are we preparing ourselves?  Are we spending time with God right now?  Are we trying our best to keep close to God?  Or are we too busy for God?  Are we too busy with the things of the world?    It seems to me that when a party is thrown, there is preparation on both the part of the host and the guest as well:  the host has to prepare the hall, prepare the food, etc.  But the guest also has preparation to make by getting properly dressed, cleaned up, etc.  God is inviting us to His house.  We have all been invited.  The question is are we even paying attention to the invitation? 

Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 19th, 2025

 

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 19th, 2025

One of the things for which I am eternally grateful is that my parents took the time to teach me good manners.  Judging by what I see and experience today I would guess that there are a lot of parents who did not take the time to teach common courtesy to their children.  Just walk into a store and you will see proof of my statement.  Do people say, "Excuse me" or "Pardon me" when they need to pass by or walk in front of you?  A big one for me is saying "Thank you" when someone does something for you.  Do you ever hold the door for someone at a store, and they say don't say "Thanks"?   I do my best to always say "Thanks" when someone holds the door . . .  when someone passes me something I need . . . when someone helps me find something in a store . . . etc.  To say "Thank you" is just common courtesy, it seems to me.  To my parents who took the time to teach me common courtesy and how to show respect, Thank you!

But while we are talking about common courtesy and showing thanks for what people have done for us, how often do we show thanks to God for all the blessings He bestows on us?  Do we take the time to say "Thank You" to God for blessing us.  Proof of God's blessings are all around us and we need to thank the Good Lord above for all His blessings.  We all have things to complain about but giving thanks is not about focusing on what is wrong in our life.  Rather, we give thanks to Our Creator for all the good things He makes possible for us to have.  If you are not in the habit of giving thanks, develop the habit.  Say "Thank You" to God on a daily basis for all the blessings He bestows on you.

Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, October 12th, 2025

 

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, October 12th, 2025

Do you have a job or do you have a vocation?    So many of us go to work Monday through Friday working Eight to Five.  We do what is required of us while we are there.  We do what our boss expects us to do and then we go home. And then we wait around for payday.  We do what we are told Monday through Friday, eight to five, but then when we get home that is MY time.   That would describe a "job."  But St. Paul writes:  "I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1)   If we look up the definition for the word "vocation" you might find the following definition for the word:  "a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling."  That definition would seem to mean something more than simply a "job."  And if you look at the same definition it goes on to say:  "a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life" and then "a function or station in life to which one is called by God. the religious vocation; the vocation of marriage."   (Dictonary.com definition of "Vocation") Given this further definition of a vocation I once again ask the question do you have a job or do you have a vocation when it comes to God?  St. Paul wants us to realize that we are called by God.  It seems though that most folks consider this nothing more than a "job."  When Sunday rolls around we get dressed, go to church, listen to the Word, and then we go home and do what we want to do.  The rest of the week is my time.  That seems more to describe having a job not having a vocation.  St. Paul is reminding us that every single one of us is called by God.  God calls us to live a life dedicated to Him. So much of the world dedicates their life to themselves.  But again St. Paul reminds us that we should "walk worthy of the vocation" by which each one of us is called.  As Christians, we should always remember that we do not simply have a job . . . . we have a vocation.  We have a calling.  A divine calling.  Our calling is a way of life.  A way of life centered around God.  We should always be mindful that we are called and that we have a vocation to serve the Almighty.  

Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 5th, 2025

 

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, October 5th, 2025

In the Seventh Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Luke paints a fascinating picture for us.  He describes Our Blessed Lord entering the city of Nain along with His disciples.  As we read this passage, we discover that Our Lord encountered a funeral procession and the grieving mother.  As we read this passage, we can begin to see in our mind's eye the drama unfolding before us.  And as Our Lord saw what was happening, He looked upon the grieving mother who had lost her only son, we are told that Our Lord had compassion on her.  "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her . . ." (St. Luke 7:13)  Let us reflect on this fact.  First, Our Lord took the time to notice what was taking place.  Do we take the time to notice what is happening to people around us?  Do we take the time to notice what is going on in the lives of others?  Or are we so preoccupied with our own lives that we do not notice what is going on around us?  Next, Our Lord had compassion on her?  Our Lord saw what was going on.  He saw the agony and pain in this grieving mother's eyes, and He had compassion on her.  Do we show compassion on those around us?  "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another" (I St. Peter 3:8)   We are called to follow Our Lord in how we lead our lives.  We will never be perfect, and we will fall short very often.  But the point remains that we are called to be His representatives here in the world.  We are called to carry on His mission in the world.  And we should show mercy and compassion to those around us.

Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. 

Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 28th, 2025

 

Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 28th, 2025

"Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? "  (St. Matthew 6:25)

As human beings we need to be fed and we also have to be clothed.  But as Christians, we also have to be spiritually fed on a daily basis.    People are hungry for the Word of God.  They want to hear what God is saying to them. They are searching for God and may not even know it.  As St. Augustine pointed out:   "You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."  St. Augustine knew full well the desires of the human heart.  He was restless himself as a young man but he tried to "calm" this restlessness by focusing on fulfilling many desires of the heart and mind.  St. Augustine sought to fulfill his hunger with sex.  He sought to fulfill his hunger with wine.  He even sought to satisfy this restlessness with learning and education.  In essence, St. Augustine found that he went down many avenues to satisfy his restlessness and search for happiness.  And he found that each and every time he was indeed "satisfied" for a brief time but then his heart became "restless" again.  And St. Augustine discovered a pattern each of these points in his life:  he was satisfied for a time, yes, but then he wanted something else.  It was not until St. Augustine gave his heart to God that he discovered his heart was "restless" no longer.    Our human hearts are indeed restless.  Our human minds are restless.  We human beings are constantly searching for things that make us happy, for things that satisfy us.  And again we find inspiration from St. Augustine when he gives us the answer to satisfying our true hunger as human beings:  "So I set about to find God and found that I could not find Him until I embraced the mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus, Who is over all these things, Who was calling me and saying:  'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life . . . ."  

As St. Augustine discovered in his own life, the human heart desires many things to be "satisfied."  But above all these "desires" is the desire to be with God and this can only be satisfied by a relationship with Our Blessed Saviour.  "Therefore take no thought, saying What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?   . . . . for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  (St. Matthew 6:31-33)  As human beings we will desire many things in life but we need to first seek and desire God.  Until we discover that purpose, we will forever be restless and unsatisfied in life.

Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. 

St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, September 21st, 2025

 

Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, September 21st, 2025

In the Ninth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel the Pharisees ask the disciples why Our Lord takes the opportunity to eat with tax collectors and sinners.  Our Lord heard this comment being made and He responded:  "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  . . . . for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (vv 12-13)  On this Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, it is good to recall that Our Lord calls all to serve Him, especially sinners.  Remember that St. Matthew was a tax collector.  And to put things into perspective, remember that tax collectors were hated.  They were hated because they took the people's money.  Tax collectors were known to cheat the people in order to line their own pockets.  And they were also hated because they took the money and gave it to the Romans, an occupying force.  But nonetheless Our Lord called St. Matthew to follow Him.  Our Lord does not discriminate.  Our Lord calls all who are willing to follow Him.  Very often we fool ourselves into thinking that we are "not worthy" to serve God.  We convince ourselves that we are "too sinful to do God's work."  The bottom line is that all of us are sinners in need of God's mercy.  God calls each and every one of us to repentance.  God calls each and every one of us to serve Him.  God calls each and every one of us to give our hearts to Him.  St. Matthew represented the most hated man because he was a tax collector.  Yet Our Lord did not hesitate in calling St. Matthew.  And to St. Matthew's credit, he accepted the called and followed Our Lord.  St. Matthew did not hesitate to accept Our Lord's invitation.   Neither should we hesitate to accept Our Lord's invitation.

Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 14th, 2025

 

Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 14th, 2025

In the Tenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, we hear Our Lord tell His disciples the following:  "BLESSED are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (vv 23-24)   Boy, if there was ever an "understatement" in the Bible this was definitely it.  The disciples heard and saw things on a regular basis that that prophets and kings and regular folks like you and me would have longed to hear.  The disciples were in the presence of Our Lord on a daily basis.  Think about all the wonderful things they heard.  Think about all the miracles they witnessed during that time.  But even with all that they had seen and all that they had heard, they still took things for granted, didn't they?  Look at the example of St. Thomas, who has gone down in history known more famously by another name:  "Doubting Thomas."  This is because despite the fact that he saw so many miracles with his own eyes.  Despite the fact that he heard so many wonderful things and truths which Our Lord spoke.  Despite all of this St. Thomas still "doubted" and questioned whether it truly was the Lord Who was raised from the dead.  But are we really so different from St. Thomas?  Has God done wonderful things for us in our life?  Has He blessed us throughout our lifetime?  Has God been with us when we needed Him most?  Has He walked alongside us when no-one else would?  God has spoken to us as well.  God has blessed us during our lifetime.  We have seen the miracles which God has done for us.  Or maybe not.  Maybe we didn't hear God speaking to us.  Why?  Because we were too busy listening to what the world was saying to us.  Perhaps we never noticed the blessings which the Good Lord provided for us because we were too occupied chasing after what the world has to offer.  God speaks to us.  Take time to pay attention.  God provides for us.  Take the opportunity to thank Him.  God teaches us.  Make sure that you learn what He is teaching. 

 Join us at 10:30 AM on Sundays at St. Margaret church.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.