Sixth Sunday after Trinity, July 27th, 2025

 

Sixth Sunday after Trinity, July 27th, 2025

In the Fifth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear Our Lord giving very difficult advice to His disciples:  " I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire."  I don't know about you but I get angry all the time.  I get angry about things I see on the nightly news.  I get angry every time I go to the grocery and see how much the prices have risen since the last time I went to the grocery.  I get angry about people who drive like idiots on the highway.  I get angry when the Cubs lose.  I guess you get the picture.  There's lots of things I get angry about.  And I bet that describes most of us around the world.  And we try to justify our being angry, don't we?  If we get angry with someone it is because someone else is "an idiot," it is because someone else "deserves it," it is because someone else caused us to get angry.   God sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins.  Nothing more, nothing less.  But He did this because He loves us.  All of us.  Nothing more, nothing less.  And Our Lord spent His days on earth showing people God's love.  Off the top of my head, I can only think of one example in Scripture where we see Our Lord angry and that is in the Temple when He sees that they have turned His Father's house into a "den of thieves" and began overturning tables.   All of us, including myself, need to stop getting so angry about this, that or the other.  We need to stop focusing on what gets us angry and focus on God and what God wants for our lives.  We need to focus more on God so that we won't have time to get angry.  Is this easy?  No, it is very difficult.  But it is worth it.

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.  

Fourth Sunday after Trinity, July 13th, 2025

 

Fourth Sunday after Trinity, July 13th, 2025

Being a Christian is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination.  Come to think of it, being a human being is not an easy thing either.  Having to make decisions that affect your own life.  Having to make decisions that affect others . . . . for example, if you are a parent or the owner of a company.  Having to do things that you would prefer not to do but have to be done . . .  cutting the grass comes to mind or paying bills.  Having to juggle various roles all at the same time . . .   going to work . . . taking care of your home . . .  being a parent . . .  being a child . . . . paying bills . . . doing chores . . .  etc. The point being is that life is busy . . . at least it is for me . . . and life is full of difficulties and challenges . . .  again, at least it is for me.  But as I look around on social media and in the news and listening to people's conversations, it seems that people must have a whole lot of free time that they don't know what to do with.  It used to be that if you held a different belief than me, I might not have agreed with you but it amounted to nothing more than that:  a difference of opinion.  Period.  End of story.  I might not like your choice or I might not like your belief but on the other hand you might not be too fond of something about me either.  But we just left it at that.  And, more importantly, we left it alone.  You had your belief.  I had my belief. Period.  Today, people get into all kinds of arguments and criticisms of one another if they do not agree and support the other person one hundred and twenty percent.

In St. Luke's Gospel, Our Lord said:  " BE ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."  (St. Luke 6:36)  But then He goes on to say in the following verse:  "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."   (v.37)  It is that last part that we should be most concerned with . . . ". .  . forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."   I have long said that we tend to be so focused on the wrong-doing in others lives, if for no other reason, it takes the focus off of our wrong doing.  If I focus on someone else and where they are wrong in their life, it means that I have less time to focus on what is wrong in my own life.    A few verses later, Our Lord states in Verse 41:  "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"  Why am I so concerned about the speck that I see in my brother's eye when I am totally oblivious to the plank in my own eye?!?  The bottom line is this:  Don't be too quick to criticize someone else because your backyard probably needs a little sprucing up as well.  You don't have to be in complete agreement with someone in order to be civil and loving to that person.  Our Lord stated that we need to "love one another"  He did not say that we need to "agree with one another."  And finally,  show a little mercy and compassion to those around you.  Do not be so quick to condemn someone who does not agree with you.  That person may not agree with you either on other subjects.  The bottom line is that each one of us needs to be concerned if we agree with God.   I should be LESS concerned about making MY own voice heard  . . . and be MORE concerned about making GOD'S voice heard in my life and the way in which I treat others around me.

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.

Third Sunday after Trinity, July 6th, 2025

 Third Sunday after Trinity, July 6th, 2025

Have you ever misplaced something that you needed desperately?  Have you ever lost something which was very dear to you?  Have you ever discovered that you did not have something, and you needed that item to complete a project?  If so, you probably focused all your time and energy on finding that lost item which is suddenly gone.  This is just human nature.  We tend to focus on what we don't have instead of focusing on what we do have.  In the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel Our Lord gives three examples of various people who have lost things and how happy these people are when they find what they are looking for.  As I say, we can understand this feeling perfectly.  How did you feel when you found the lost item you were looking for?  How did you feel when you found that item which you knew in your heart was lost forever and then it turned up suddenly?  You were happy, weren't you?  You were relieved.  Our Lord is making the point that it makes Our Heavenly Father very happy when one sinner turns from his sinful ways and makes a return to God.  We need to turn away from the world and turn towards God.  We are in the world and the world has so much to capture our attention and draw us away from God.  But we need to do what we can to turn our attention away from the world and direct it towards God.  

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. 

Second Sunday after Trinity, June 29th, 2025

 Second Sunday after Trinity, June 29th, 2025

In the Fourteenth  Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, Our Lord tells the story of a certain man who made plans to host a great feast.  And when all the details were taken care of and the time for the party had arrived, the people who had been invited did not show up.  They all came up with excuses as to why they did not show up.  One person stated that he had to look after his oxen.  Another person said that he had just purchased a piece of land and he had to check on it.  Another man stated that he had just been married and he had to be with his wife.  The point being that all the guests who had been invited to the great feast had come up with excuses to not attend.  Our Lord told this story because He wanted people to realize that God has planned a wonderful party for His children as well.  But how many of us make excuses.  "Well, I would go to church if it wasn't so early in the morning."  "I don't go to church because it's boring."  "I don't read the Bible because there are too many words I don't understand."  "I don't go to church because it's filled with hypocrites."  And the excuses go on and on and on.  God has planned a party for His children but only we can decide if we are going or not. It is up to us.  God invites us but He does not force us to attend.  We have to make the choice.  How do we make the choice?  How do we choose God?  Give your heart to Him.  Spend time with God each day in prayer.  Read the Bible.  Study it.  Treat people and do things with God in mind.  In other words, what would God have me do?  And go to church when you are able.  When you go to church you are honoring God by your presence.  And you are supporting your brothers and sisters in Christ by being there.  Even today, many people make excuses when it comes to God.  Do your best not to be one of them.

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.

First Sunday after Trinity, June 22nd, 2025

 First Sunday after Trinity, June 22nd, 2025

In the Sixteenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, Our Blessed Lord relates the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man.  In this story, Our Saviour contrasts the difference between how these two men lived their lives:  the rich man wore fine clothing and ate  delicious foods while Lazarus was a poor beggar who lived a miserable existence.  We are further told that when both men died, Lazarus went to Heaven and the rich man went to hell.  In fact, the rich man suffered so much in hell that he cried out to Abraham to send Lazarus to him to give him even the slightest bit of relief to his torment and we then hear the following:  "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things . . . ." (St. Luke 16:25)

This Gospel passage points out the problem faced by so many in our society today.  So many of us are fixated on the good things in life.  We have everything we want:  the latest gadgets; the newest car; a house in the fanciest neighborhood; the latest fashions; etc.  Now, there is nothing wrong with any of these things just mentioned, but when they take our attention away from God, that is where the problem arises.  We are called as Christians to keep our attention fixed on God.  It is God Who provides all the blessings in life but if these "blessings" divert the attention away from Him, what use are they in the long run?  Fashionable clothes go out of style . . . the latest electronics become obsolete . . .   cars break down . . .  but the one thing they never goes bad is the love of God.  "Put your money where your mouth is."  We've all heard this phrase.  In essence, it means that you better back up your words or else they are "just words" and no more.  Well, God did back up His words.  He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He loved us by sending His Only Begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins.  Our Blessed Saviour died on the Cross for us.   Why do we keep our attention focused on earthly items that will fade away into nothing?  We have been given a gift beyond measure:  the gift of salvation.  It is offered freely.   Keep your eyes focused on God.  Keep your attention on your Heavenly Father. 

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.

Trinity Sunday, June 15th, 2025

 Trinity Sunday, June 15th, 2025

In the third chapter of St. John's Gospel, we are listening to a conversation between Our Blessed Saviour and Nicodemus.  Our Lord tells Nicodemus that we must be "born again."  This phrase confuses Nicodemus a little because he comes right out and asks:  "How can a man be born again?  Can he enter his mother's womb a second time?"  And Our Lord explains to him how this is possible by stating:  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (St. John 3:1 ff)  As Our Lord explains to Nicodemus, our physical body can only be born once but in the spirit, we can indeed be born again.  It would be physically and virtually impossible for a human being to be born again, but purely in the spiritual sense, it is possible to begin all over again by turning our lives over to God.  This is because Our Lord makes the point to distinguish between what is physical and what is spiritual.  Thus, in our spirit when we give our hearts over to God and make Him the master of our life, then we become born again.  We become, as St. Paul puts it,  "a new creature."  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  (II Corinthians 5:17)  Our Lord says to Nicodemus that "That whosoever believeth in (the Son of Man, Jesus) should not perish, but have eternal life."   (St. John 3:15)  So believe in Our Lord and put all your trust in Him.  Make Him the ruler and the very center of your life and turn your hearts over to Him!

Today, we celebrate "Trinity Sunday" in honor of the Holy Trinity:  Father, Son and Holy Ghost.    "For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts .  . . . ." (II Corinthians 4:6)  We resemble God not in our outward characteristics but rather we resemble God inwardly:  in how we act; how we treat others; how we love; how we have compassion; in how we forgive; etc.  The image of God that we were created in is through the spirit that is within each one of us.  And it is up to us how much we let that light shine forth to the rest of the world.

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. 

Whitsunday, June 8th, 2025

 

Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday, June 8th, 2025

In the world in which we live . . .  if you want my opinion . . .  it's understandable if a person is scared.   I mean just look at all the things to be scared of.   All you have to do is turn on the nightly news and see a whole host of things that will terrify you:  rampant crime  . . . . drive-by shootings . . . . wars and threats of wars  . . . .  erupting volcanoes . . . . . These are just things which I saw featured on the news this week.  The news itself does a good job of scaring us.  The media focuses on negative things to begin with.  They report on murders, car wrecks, robberies, factories closing down, etc.  But then when you factor in the news being on for hours and hours during the day, the result is that you keep seeing the same scary news over and over and over and over  again.  It's almost as if the "fear" is pounded into your head hourly by the news media.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I am not saying that there are not things to be scared of or concerned about.  Oh, by all means, yes there are.  What I am pointing out is that by courtesy of the Internet, by courtesy of the news media, we are allowed to dwell on our fears twenty-four hours a day.  In my opinion, you can't watch the news without getting at least a little depressed.  

Perhaps this is the precise reason Our Blessed Lord said what He said.  If we look at the Fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel of St. John, we hear Our Lord say:  "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  In fact, let's look at the whole verse:  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  (St. John 14:27)   In this verse Our Blessed Saviour makes a point to specify that it is "His peace" that He is giving us.  He is differentiating between His peace that He is giving and the peace that the world gives.  The peace that the world "gives" is anything but peaceful.  The world gives us doubt.  The world gives us fear.  The world imparts jealousy and hatred.  We always have worries at the back of our mind about a whole host of things.  We are scared . . . .  sometimes rightly scared and sometimes not . . .  but still scared, nonetheless.  

But throughout all of these anxieties and fears and worries and concerns, the Lord is the cure to our concerns.  He is the sure foundation that we need in our life.  He is the One  . . . . the only One  . . . . Who can offer true peace and security of mind.  "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  God will always be with us, no matter what.  God will always be there for us, in good times and bad.  God will never forsake us.  God will never leave us.  God is ever faithful to His promise even when we are not.  Our Blessed Lord promised that when He left this world, He would send us the Holy Ghost to comfort us, to strengthen us, to fortify us.   "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."  (St. John 14:26)  We have to keep in mind as well that the Holy Ghost is known as the "Comforter" but that name is misleading in our modern day English language because it almost describes something very "comfortable" such as a nice comfy pillow, for example.  Actually, the translation would be more accurate as "Strengthen" or "Strength."  Our Lord is sending us the Holy Ghost to strengthen us.  Either way, let us be assured of one thing:  God is always there for us and we should not be afraid of anything this old world can throw at 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. 

Please consider joining us for Mass.  Come hear the Word of God found in the King James Version of the Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Consider setting aside an hour of your week where you can dedicate that time solely to God.  Come hear the Word of God.  Listen to God speaking to you directly and hear what He has to say for YOU!  Receive the Precious Body and Blood at Communion time to be strengthened and nourished for your journey!