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Jesus promised his disciples that whatever they have given up in family ties or wealth they will be given 100 times as much, as well as eternal life.... and yet, we often still choose our "stuff" over God.

Jesus tells a rich young man to give all his possessions to the poor and then to follow him. The young man goes away saddened. Do we own our possessions and are free to use them wisely, or are we owned by our possessions and enslaved by them?

A Word of Hope by Fr. James Marchionda, OP
Jesus shares the parable of the wheat and the tares growing together to let us know that we are not to judge those who are different from ourselves, that is God's job at the end of time. But can we benefit from learning from people who are different from us?

A Word of Hope by Fr. James Marchionda, OP
Jesus teaches us to sell everything for the Pearl of Great Price. What more would we be willing to give up for the Kingdom of God?

Breaking open the readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. James Marchionda, OP reminds us that if we have God's plan as our highest goal, whatever befalls us, we can be sure that God will make things well in the end.

The Israelites grumbled against God in the desert, and God heard them and sent manna. Fr. James Marchionda, OP thus reminds us to be honest in our prayer, praise when we can, and grumble when we have to, because God hears and responds to it all.

The mother of James and John asked Jesus to sit at his right and at his left in the Kingdom. Fr. James Marchionda, OP asks us to think about what we ask God for? Is it riches and fame, or to be fruitful in our ministry?

Jesus said "woe to you" to those who witnessed his great deeds but did not heed them, so Fr. James Marchionda, OP reminds us to pay attention to the great deeds that people are doing around us each day, because these loving and often heroic actions of individuals are a living sign of our loving God.

Jesus talks about how we must love God more than your father or mother. Fr. James Marchionda, OP reminds us that we need to find a balance in our lives between faith and all our responsibilities.

Fr. James Marchionda, OP advises us to take our troubles to God in prayer. God will answer them. Even if we do not get an answer just as we expected, but we will know that God is with us, helping. So bring your burdens to the Lord.

Jesus tells us, "Come to me all who labor, and I will give you rest." Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP explains that Jesus does not promise to take away our burdens, but to lighten them. Our burdens might remain, but they will feel lighter with the help of Jesus.

Echoing the words of Jesus, Fr. James Marchionda, OP challenges us to love God as much as we love our own family (love God more, not your family less), and to carry the cross of Jesus even as we deal with the others crosses that life gives us.