32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 10, 2019
Leif Kehrwald

​The very first generations of Christians did not yet have the Gospel writings that we have—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They had bits of writings and oral memories of the things that Jesus had said. And they had letters from Paul and others. Meanwhile, they encountered many challenges and questions regarding their beliefs. 

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 3,  2019
Fr. Elwin Schwab

Available only by audio

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 27, 2019
Leif Kehrwald

Whenever, I hear a Bible story that involves a Tax Collector, I am reminded of when my sons were grade school age, and there was a time when our older son would come home from school and pick on and bully his younger brother. At first, we didn’t pay too much attention – ordinary sibling rivalry. But the behavior persisted and even intensified . . . and it was always right after he got home from school. 

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 20,  2019
Sr Phyllis Jaszkowiak

Today’s Gospel tells the story of a woman who is seeking justice.  She continually comes and badgers the Judge until she receives justice.  A number of commentators praise the woman for being persistent.  They sometimes equate the judge with God and the woman, who can be anyone, who persists in pleading and praying for justice until it is granted.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 13, 2019
Fr El Schwab

Available only by audio

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 6, 2019
Leif Kehrwald

Last week we heard and reflected upon the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the poor beggar at the gate. An extraordinary lesson that concludes the 16th chapter in Luke’s gospel. 
 
Turn the page in your Bible, and you’ll see that the 17th chapter begins with four important lessons that form sort of a portrait of the ideal Christian. Jesus is saying to his disciples, “Want to follow me? You must embrace these four things. And none is easy.” Oddly, however, our Gospel reading allows us to hear only lessons #3 and #4. It’s like we tuned in to the latest episode of our favorite podcast half-way through. 
 
What are the four points?

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 29, 2019
Fr. Jack Mosbrucker, visiting Priest

Available only by audio

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 22, 2019
Sr Phillis Jaszkowiak

Friday I joined the protest, in downtown Portland, for our climate. We protested the fact that not much has been done to stop climate change.  It was led by our young people who will have to live with the consequences.  So we protest to make change happen, which takes knowledge, time, patience, courage and stick-to-it-tiveness.  .  As Sr. Joan Chittister says, “Protest is the cry of the heart for the coming of the will of God.”   

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 15, 2019
Fr. Neil Moore, visiting priest

Available in audio only

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 8, 2019
Leif Kehrwald

​In the past I have mentioned that Scripture writers used all sorts of literary tools to communicate their message, from prose to poetry, from myth to parable, from comic strip to apocalyptic writing. If you don’t know the literary tools being used, you can easily miss the primary message.