Monday November 17, 2025
As Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by.
Many years ago while I was living in Kitwe, Zambia I heard that an American priest was visiting. In fact this American priest was going to have a retreat at a Franciscan house in one of the townships. You could take two bus trips to get there or take the four or five hour journey on foot. A group of us boys set out walking to go see Fr. John Judie. He is a remarkable priest and he have us the best retreat ever. I still remember his holly some 35 years later. It was about little Mr Zacheaus who was up the tree and out on a limb.
We heard of a man of God and we saw it as our opportunity to meet our God present in this priest. The blind man hears about Our Lord and sees it as his moment of grace. I want you to make going to church personal. God is visiting your neighborhood, this is your opportunity to pour out your heart to him. Whatever church you go to, whatever inspirational song you listen to, see it as your moment of grace. Fr. John Judie changed my life, Fr. Ron Knott opened my eyes to the beauty of the word of God, Fr Brendon Moss taught me how to connect with people at mass, Fr. Pablo Hernandez taught me that God can be a friend.
This blind man would not let this moment pass by neither should you!!
Wednesday November 12, 2025
Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him.
They should not have done that!!! They knew the laws and they disregarded them. I wonder why they did it though. What led these ten lepers to say “enough with rules that keep us away. We are going to meet the Lord.”
There comes a point in life when the pain of separation or suffering becomes too much that we take our chances and go into the forbidden places. I pray you never know such suffering. But I also want you to know that you can sum up the courage and approach the altar of God with whatever troubles your heart. He will stop and listen. I was talking to a mother yesterday who has been banging the doors of heaven for her precious son who won’t stop drinking. She is embarrassed that she feels like she has to come to the Lord in the dark or alone. I say there is nothing to be ashamed of, find company and come to the Lord.
These lepers must also have heard that he does not turn anyone away. So they acted on this good news and approached. If you are in the Louisville area, Fr Steven has a healing Mass tomorrow at Rabbouni at 7pm. Come get your blessing, you will not be alone.
Tuesday November 11, 2025
Luke 17:7-10
So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’
Our Lord directs this instruction to his disciples to remind them of who they are at the very core. They are servants. I don’t know if you ever grew up with servants in your home. This is indeed a very rare reality here in America but in other places where I have lived, yes yes we had servants. You really do not want to end up as a servant. It is not something to be proud of or write home about.
Yet Our Lord wants his closest friends to be servants. Not to do servant work here and there but to actually embrace the essence of serving.
The first servant I had has remained a servant to this day. Her whole life is about making my life better. Mama is the servant who has taken no rest. If you think about the work our parents have poured into our lives and often times have received so little from us. They serve out of love, they serve because frankly they know no other way of being. What do most parents if not all parents want? That there children be healthy, happy and prosperous.
This is the attitude Our Lord wants from his disciples. But alas he felt they had become entitled to power and money. Thank goodness this cancer is no longer in the church!!
Friday November 7, 2025
Luke 16:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
This is a very interesting parable that Our Lord tells today. In it he seems to be praising the dishonest Servant. I am sure there is much lost to culture and time with this story. However we can still draw a lesson or two.
You need to know what time it is and what season it is in your life and then act with urgency. I believe the dishonest servant is praised because he quickly understands what is about to happen. See when I was younger, I could afford to be foolish about my affairs. But when I look ahead now, there is so much to do in so little time. So today I feel called to hurry up, see the urgency of the times I live in and build those meaningful relationships. Life goes by super fast in the end. Use your remaining time wisely.
Thursday November 6, 2025
Luke 15:1-10
The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
Sometimes we tend to read over these opening remarks of this beautiful passage. We want to get to the meat and potatoes of what he said and did. But slow down for one second, the writing above may not just be setting the scene of what Our Lord said to the Pharisees and Scribes. Remember what Fr Rickstatter said when I was in seminary “brothers there are no throw away lines in scripture, paper and ink were too expensive to have throw away lines.”
Maybe this is the goodness!! The good news is that finally Tax collectors and sinners were seeking him. These poor miserable souls had been written off. There was no place for them in the kingdom as preached by the Pharisees. This is why our Lord does not spend too much time in synagogues. He is outside the synagogues also seeking the lost sons and daughters of Abraham wherever they could be found. Have you noticed that whenever Our Lord is in the temple he is causing trouble? Anyway I digress … back to the message. Are you seeking the Lord? He is dying and rising to meet you wherever you are. Today make some time for him and say a prayer.
Tuesday November 4, 2025
Luke 14:15-24
Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”
This is the very last verse of this chosen passage that is read at daily mass today. The topic of discussion is who will be seated at the dinner table in the Kingdom of God. Those who were invited, the chosen ones, were too busy doing this and that. Then the master opened the doors of the kingdom to anyone willing to come. Our Lord says he wants the banquet hall filled.
Are you the kind of person who has a tendency to count yourself out? You think there are other people, other churches, other persons worthy of the calling? Well today you get a personal invitation to belong. Come as you are, come with your stretch marks, your imperfections, your beauty. This beautiful invitation goes to all of us. Now as you come and you are like me, I invite you for a brief second to watch the faces of the “cool kids.” They are not happy, they will talk and maybe try to make you uncomfortable. But you come to the Kingdom at the invitation of Our Lord and no one else. This is an invitation he died for so that you may have a place. Honor the invitation and come proudly. You belong here!!!
Wednesday October 29, 2025
Luke 13:20-30
Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
Growing up as a Catholic, I never really knew how to answer this question when the born again Christians asked it. With Bible in hand they would walk up to a rosary wearing Catholic and ask “Are you Saved? Did you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?” It was a tricky question to ask Catholics because that was not our lingo. We spoke sacraments.
So are you saved? How many will be saved? I did not think I had a chance of salvation. Not that I was a bad kid but the competition was tough. Heaven had only limited seats and I thought of all the saints who had died before me. What chance did I have with such limited seats in heaven. The Bible says in Revelation that only 144,000 will be saved (Rev 8:9-10). What chance did I have when I occasionally stole some scones from mama’s kitchen?
Our priest saw our distress and he came up with a solution. Wear a scapular. On the scapular was written “whoever dies wearing this scapular will not miss eternal life.” That was the ticket until mine broke and traumatized me again.
Yesterday I asked us to do our best. God knows that some of us have challenges that are embedded in our DNA. Just give it your hardest. Show some effort in giving grace to your annoying cousin or friend. I don’t worry if I am saved anymore. I worry about feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, giving clothes to the distressed. Hake even tithing to my church is part of my effort. I had to put that one in . Can someone bring me a scapular next time you are in Italy. The brown one please. Gotta wear that one for old times sake.
Tuesday October 28, 2025
Luke 6:12-19
Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them;
Have you ever had an overnight prayer? In my formative years I belonged to the charismatic renewal movement and we occasionally had overnight prayer meetings. The hot tea and bread at 03:00 am was always something to look forward to. It is funny now thinking back and remembering that hot tea was a highlight but we were young poor boys and it did not take much to brighten our days. When I was in seminary or formation we also had these overnight prayer meetings and we invited the community to join us. I remember coming out of these prayer sessions feeling renewed and focused. I knew that God would make a way where there seems to be no way.
Our Lord had a difficult and important decision to make. He spent a whole night in prayer because he wanted guidance in choosing the twelve disciples. Was life perfect after that night in prayer? Where the disciples God chosen and solid people?
After a whole night in prayer he still chose Judas who betrayed him, Peter who denied him and a whole bunch who run away. Only John the beloved stayed to the very end.
However we firmly believe that these twelve were God chosen and God strengthened. Somehow they continued his beautiful ministry fubbling through it all. I like to think that you too are blundering your way into heaven. Today I want you to take courage in your choices. God does sort things out. All God asks is that we do our best. Be best!!! Someone said that before and for the life of me I can’t remember who said it, Be Best. Anyway before you set out today, pray for guidance and trust that you are indeed being led by the Spirit.
Thursday October 23, 2025
Luke 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over.
The disciples were slow in getting started or getting some excitement about the gospel. One gets the impression that they showed up somewhat present. I have seen this kind of posture in other areas that I have worked. I am sure you have too. Someone showing up at work with no love for the job or someone being on a school project but not putting in the effort.
I remember being this kind of a guy when I was young. My novice master would wonder out loud why we were even in seminary or formation. We did the least!!!
Tell me this, what are you passionate about? What lights a fire under your feet? Is it singing? Is it feeding the hungry? Is it preaching? Today I want you to spend some time loving your call. I mean deliberately loving your calling. Write down why you love being a mom, uncle, friend. Above all, what lights your fire about the gospel that is Jesus Christ?
Fr Terry a wonder Irish passionist priest used to say to us “when the church is on fire, the visitors feel the heat.” Can people tell that you love the Lord or follow the Lord?
Think about it and pray about it!
Monday October 20, 2025
Luke 12-13-21
A man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.’ ‘My friend,’ he replied, ‘who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’
What enriches your life? What makes us content? Yesterday I was a wee bit early for Mass in Lebanon and I found two homeless people at the door of the church. They were asleep with everything that they have. With them was a very happy dog. They were respectful and although it was raining they paced their items and moved on so we could have Mass. I am thinking about them this morning and hoping that things change and they find a house. But this got me thinking of what I truly have. What truly enriches me is my family and the network of friends we have built here. Today Our Lord invites us to make sure we spend time nourishing what really matters in life. It is not about possessions, it is about a rich relationship with our family and Mother Nature.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Luke 11:42-46
The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God!
Oh this should be an easy preach! There is an American or rather English saying that captures what our Lord says beautifully. Don’t be the guy that puts the cart before the horse. Spirituality and indeed life itself doesn’t work like that. The Pharisees were religious about that tithe but boy did it make them bitter.
I say that about myself. I have every intention to fast during lent but then I become short tempered and easily irritated when I am hungry. I honestly feel like God says to me “please eat something, we are all suffering because of your fast.”
Anyway Justice and Love of Yahweh should come first. The tithing should be a result of our prayer and our calling to help out the church. Where in your life do you have your priorities mixed up?
Tuesday October 14, 2025
Luke 11:37-41
Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools!
I am impressed at how available Our Lord was. It seems like he always made time to visit. Once I was complaining about how little time I have between the three jobs I had. A friend looked at me and lovingly said “You will make the time if it is important.” Yes the world has always been busy, but if something or someone is important enough, we will find time. This is just a little reminder to myself to prioritize some things.
Our Lord dined a lot. It seems like in the gospel of Luke, he is either traveling or eating. Today he takes the opportunity to ask the Pharisee and us to prioritize our spiritual life. He invites us to do some deep spiritual, heart work. Have you noticed that older and deeper love is sometimes quiet? Older people can sit in silence and connect on a deeper level. They through the many years together have aligned their souls. Our Lord may not have washed his hands correctly, but his heart was connected to God. Today I invite you to some deep spiritual work, I invite you to connect with SOURCE.
Friday October 10, 2025
Luke 11:15-26
When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.
I know this is unrelated but I want to take a moment to hold dear to my heart all those who have had angel babies. As a man I feel ill equipped to talk about miscarriages or still borne. I feel double ill/ equipped because this is an experience we have never had as a couple. But it was during this month 13+ years ago when the doctor told us that the child we have now was going to be a miscarriage. There was a complication, the doctor said, and this miscarriage has began. We were devastated, helpless. I looked at Mary Ann and said, then we will pray through this. I summoned the prayer warriors at Rabbouni and we prayed this child to full term. Most of you remember our struggle, you remember praying us through pregnancy.
Since then I have come to know how difficult and lonely this experience can be. There is a grieving that women and men go through. Please say a prayer today for all those who have had this experience as part of their life journey.
This gospel passage we have today has been part of our lived experience. Tell me this: Have you ever found it difficult to accept the good that someone else has done because you don’t like their politics? Some people in Our Lord’s time could never ever give him credit. They would seize on something wrong he had done like helping someone on a Sabbath. Their hatred of him, his style, maybe his politics blinded them. I think the church should have some non-Catholics as saints. Imagine a St Nelson Mandela, a St Martin Luther King Jr or a St. Billy Gram.
Be open to God’s action today coming to you from places you would not expect.
Thursday October 9, 2025
Luke 11:5-13
‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.
Well I think I will follow this advise and at least once a week will put out this ask to you. Would you consider Rabbouni for your end of year giving. Every donation helps keep our doors and this ministry open.
Now to the more important topic. What do you need? A little peace in your life hmm? Maybe a little clarity of where life is leading you? I think we can make living with unanswered questions a spiritual practice. Paying for certainty is being a novice in the spiritual life. None of the greats had that. Hake Pope Francis said a faith that does not question is a faith that needs to be questioned.
There is a story in the gospel that comes to mind. A blind man goes to our Lord and asks, “Lord, that I might see.” Our Lord touched the blind man’s eyes with mud and spit, wages it off and says, “do you see.” Yes Lord he replies, but people look like trees. Our Lord goes for take two, another prayer, another rubbing of the eyes. Now do you see, asks our Lord. Yes yes I see. Now this part is not in the gospel. The man says, “but Lord, it’s not 20/20 vision.” Then our Lord sends him away with “keep using your eyes, you might get 20/20 and if you don’t well life is not fair.”
Ask it it will be given in some form. Thank you for your generosity to our church.
Mahalo
Monday October 6, 2025
Luke 10:25-37
There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’
What is your ultimate question? What must I do to earn more? What must I do to retire young and enjoy my life? The lawyer in today’s passage asks the most important question ever. He asks about eternal life. Have you ever pondered on this question yourself? Is a walk in God number one in your life?
Eternal life is really not about a life when we die. It is in some respects about walking in God’s grace today. Yes tomorrow is gone, it may have some impact for what happens today but this day we have a new opportunity to start afresh. Now I will let you in on a secret. Make small simple steps. Smile, be grateful, say grace intentionally before a meal, do an act of kindness.
A lot has been said about this lawyer and his ill intentions on asking this question. Well, today I just want to celebrate that he asked the important question and he has led me to ask it of myself today. What must I do to inherit life? Be kind to the human kind and all kinds.
Wednesday October 1, 2025
Luke 9:57-62
As Jesus and his disciples travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
Nothing is as it seems. From a distance it all looks great and wonderful, it all seems like the most beautiful life. Yes it is Facebook perfect from the outside but the lived reality is a challenge. I love how Our Lord tells this young man to think again. The life of discipleship is a challenge. He will have nowhere to lay his head if he decides to go this way. I wonder what challenges those pastors who have private jets have? Big money big problems.
Here is the deal for you and I. Love and make the most of where you are now. Yes dream of a beautiful future and work towards it but do not compare yourself with others. Your life, your pace, your race! Runners will get this one.
Our Lord definitely had challenges but everyday he stepped into the world and people saw his joy. They wanted what he had.
Tuesday September 30, 2025
Luke 9:51-56
Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.
So a part of me is very formal. In a weird way I am it tears into me when someone refers to Our Lord Jesus as simply Jesus. I think it is too casual, somewhat disrespectful. The disciples referred to him as “Lord.” There is a story in extra biblical sources that when St Peter’s wife was being taken to be beheaded, St Peter yelled out to her “Miriam my love, remember the Lord!!” Anyway that is neither here nor there just my pet peeve.
The Samaritans refused to accept Our Lord and his disciples. The disciples in turn wanted to show the Samaritans who was boss. Nobody gets to refuse the Son of God. Well, have you ever been rejected? It kinda rubs us the wrong way doesn’t it. I know that rejection makes me want to be even better so that the rejector will kick themselves for turning me down. Oh I hate to be rejected.
Our Lord says to the disciples, let’s move on. The time may not be right for the Samaritans to accept us. See, there is a time for everything under the sun. The gospel, the good news cannot be forced on people. Announce it and move on. And if you are rejected, maybe there is an opening to change our approach, to become better at it.
Preach on, and when it is necessary use words.
Friday September 26, 2025
Luke 9:18-22
One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’
One thing I remember vividly from my childhood is seeing mama pray the rosary. She absolutely believed in praying her rosary everyday. She did not kneel to pray it or say it out loud but we all saw the rosary in her hand as she moved from bead to bead. I have failed Grayson in that regard. I think our children need to see that prayer is important.
Our Lord prayed regularly. Prayer was important to him. At one time his disciples even asked him to teach them how to pray. Today I want to encourage you to go out in nature and talk to your God. I know that I could use a conversation with God about how this life is unfolding. Our true identity will be revealed to us more clearly when we pray!
Wednesday September 24, 2025
Luke 9:1-6
Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Where is the need today? Where do you plan to bring healing? This scripture passage serves to remind me of my mission. Sometimes I get distracted and go about doing many other things but I forget that primarily, I am a healer!!! You are a healer!!!
Healing is indeed tough and challenging work but God has blessed us with the power to do it. Our world, our country needs healing. The political divide in our nation could be a good starting place. It does not begin with the other, it begins with me. Maybe it is not politics for you, maybe for you it is mending a broken relationship. Let it begin with you. Yes sometimes we get tired of being the one to stretch out the hard first. I get that, but my friend how else will we heal if you don’t become the bigger person. Remember you have been given power by our Lord to do this. Give healing your best shot.
Tuesday September 23, 2025
Luke 8:19-21
The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’
Here is one of the problem passages in scripture. Some tend to focus on that last sentence above about who he considered his mother and brothers. Let me make something clear as if I was there myself. There is no bigger supporter of Our Lord than his mama and his family. Hake look who is present at the foot of the cross. Who becomes the leader of the church in Jerusalem (St. James his brother), tradition has it that the two disciples heading to Emmaus were actually his uncle and aunt. Our Lord’s family was very involved. They loved him and understood him.
What I love today is that this family tried to figure out moments of getting together. He could not come to them so they went to him. People were saying that he had gone mad and they called for his mother. Don’t do that to me please . She and the whole family came.
So many things can happen to strain family relationships. Hake my heart has been broken because I don’t know how to be present for a family member who is making terrible choices. I feel for my mother who cannot be in all places. You would think she would have retired from raising kids but even in her old age, she is worried about this one or that one.
Today may I just ask for prayers for the many torn families. I pray for a quick healing for all those who hurt because of family ties. O Lord come to our aid and make haste to help us!!!