A Communal Vision

March 3, 2026

2nd Sunday of Lent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

In an old church joke, one bewildered parishioner remarks, “I don’t know why people say our parish is unwelcoming. Every time I go to Sunday Mass, I say ‘Hello’ to everyone I know!” American Catholics in our day are not great at growing community. Strangers can attend a Catholic Mass, leave without meeting anyone, and go away feeling unwelcome. And sometimes Catholics stop attending Sunday Mass and no one reaches out to them about them being gone. Now it is true that you and I are to supposed come to Sunday Mass first and foremost for God. And if I neglect God’s command to worship at Sunday Mass the fault is first and foremost mine. But look at how much the Transfiguration in today Gospel was a communal, interpersonal experience.

Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up Mount Tabor. There he is transfigured before them, allowing them to glimpse his glory which was always there but veiled. Then they see the prophets Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus. And then they hear God the Father speak: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Hypothetically, instead of all three disciples, the Lord had the option of giving just one of them a vision. Peter would go on to have a solo vision upon a rooftop in the Book of Acts, and John receives solo visions for the Book of Revelation. But our Lord chooses Peter, James, and John to experience this vision together.

And what do they behold? Not a miracle manipulating the sun or stars. Not some abstraction words could not describe. They saw a person, their friend Jesus, in a new way. And Jesus was not revealed alone. The Old Covenant heroes, Moses and Elijah, speak with Jesus. Luke’s Gospel records that they spoke with Jesus about “his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” Even before their redemption, these Old Testament saints appear glorious, and seem to know who Jesus is and aspects of his mission. The Communion of Saints in glory is not cut off from us on earth.

And then they all were visited by a further manifestation of God. A paradoxically bright cloud overshadows them (perhaps a manifestation of the Holy Spirit). And then from amidst that cloud they hear the voice of God the Father. The Transfiguration is a communal, interpersonal experience because Jesus wills his disciples to enter into deeper relationship with the Trinity, with himself, with his saints, and with each other together.

James and John were siblings. Peter was previously their partner and coworker in the fishing business. All three men were from Capernaum and knew each other well as friends. Those whom Jesus chose to be his twelve apostles were not always total strangers. Jesus utilized the existing relationships—of siblings, coworkers, neighbors, and friends—to draw people to himself and help them grow in Christian devotion together. Jesus would do the same with us.

Our Catholic Faith is like a gold coin entrusted to us by our Lord. Will we continue to bury it in a napkin, afraid of making any outgoing effort to evangelize? Or will we invest this coin into others for a God-pleasing return? Imagine the joy of bringing another soul to Jesus Christ and his Church. Invite other people to our worship. They might be interested in attending Holy Mass or Adoration, but you won’t know unless you ask. When you see new folks at Mass, say “hello” to them in our vestibule. And when you haven’t seen someone for a while at Mass, let them know they’re missed. Invite people to our groups and events; they’re fun organizations and accomplish good work; Keep an eye on the bulletin for opportunities or ask someone how to get involved. Join and invite friends to share in these fruitful fellowships.

Our mission, yours and mine, is the Great Commission. And that mission is relational. Jesus says, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” He is God the Father’s beloved Son, with whom the Father is well pleased. Please listen to him, so that more people you know may experience the priceless blessings you enjoy in Jesus Christ and his Church.

Posted in Sunday Homilies, Transfiguration | Leave a Comment »

He Is Only Asleep — Funeral Homily for William “Bill” Sarauer, 82

February 28, 2026

By Fr. Victor Feltes

One spring afternoon many years ago, Bill took a nap. Bill always took an afternoon nap and he took this particular nap seated inside of his truck. He was quietly parked at the end of the farm’s driveway as he waited alongside the country road for people to show up. That’s when he felt like, as he would say, “just resting my eyes.” Around a quarter to four, his granddaughter Amanda arrived home from school. Seeing him inside, she knocked on the truck window and kept knocking, at least three different times, but grandpa didn’t move. So Amanda not-unreasonably concluded: “He’s dead.” A call was placed to 9-1-1 and an ambulance was summoned, but before the medics could arrive on scene the truck door was opened from outside and a startled, groggy Bill nearly tumbled out. Bill was not dead. He was only sleeping.

Jesus once remarked the same thing about a 12-year-old girl. The daughter of Jairus had just died from an illness, but when Jesus arrived at the house he said the mourners, “Why all this commotion and weeping? Go, for the child is not dead but sleeping.” They mocked Jesus because they knew she was dead, but once he had them put outside he took the dead girl’s hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl rose up immediately and Jesus gave her to her amazed parents.

On a different occasion, Jesus received word that his friend Lazarus was gravely ill, but Jesus stayed put for a couple of days. Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea. … Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples replied, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved!” But Jesus was referring to death while they thought he meant ordinary sleep, so Jesus told them clearly: “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there that you may believe. Let us go to him.” When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, where he had been dead four days, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man shuffled out resurrected, still wrapped in his burial cloths.

Likening death to natural sleep was not original to Jesus in the Gospels. The Prophet Daniel, for instance, foretold that “many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake. Some shall live forever, [while] others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.” And the 1st Book of Kings records how King David, author of our 23rd Psalm, “rested/slept with his ancestors and was buried in [Jerusalem].” The Book of Acts narrates the death of Stephen the Martyr by saying “he fell asleep,” and the New Testament epistles frequently use “falling asleep” as an image for dying. For example, St. Paul reassures the Thessalonians: “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”

Why do the Inspired Scriptures and Jesus Christ use falling asleep as an image for death? Because our death is only temporary. Under ordinary circumstances, we do not fear to go to sleep at night because we reawaken every the morning. We are not terrified to take a nap because we soon wake again, hopefully, renewed. Dying is like falling asleep because natural death is not the end for us. We are promised resurrection.

Jesus tells us a parable about ten virgins. As they await the arrival of a long-delayed Bridegroom, they all become drowsy and fall asleep. Then at midnight, the darkest hour, a cry goes out that awakens them all: “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Five are wise and have oil ready for their lamps but five are foolish and have not prepared. While the wise ones rejoice with the Bridegroom inside his wedding feast, the foolish ones are barred outside. This Bridegroom is Jesus, who warns us to be prepared for his return, “for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Bill’s family describes him as “an amazing husband” of almost sixty years and “a perfect dad.” “He was selfless, hardworking, and steady,” a “good and faithful servant.” A man of Catholic faith and prayer; not one to complain but to instead pray harder. And Bill was well-prepared to die. Daily near the end he said so. “I’m ready to go home.” Pray for Bill’s soul—to aid him wherever needed—but please also learn from his example.

Unless Christ the Bridegroom returns first, each of us is going to die. But before we fall asleep, the wise among us will prepare to meet our Lord. Practicing proper devotion toward God and our neighbors reflects us tending to the oil of our faith and flame of our love. Prioritize this care of your lamp, so that when Jesus Christ appears you will be ready and eager to greet him. Bill has died, but he is only sleeping. And one day we will reawaken with him to the Resurrection. So tend to your life’s precious lamp, the oil of your faith and the flame of your love, so that when Jesus Christ the Bridegroom comes, we may all greet each other with joy.

Posted in Funeral Homilies, Homily, Last Things, Resurrection, Ten Virgins | 1 Comment »

Let His Will Be Done

February 21, 2026

1st Sunday of Lent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

When people in Confession confess failing to trust God, I note that humanity has struggled with this since the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, the demonic serpent suggested that Adam and Eve shouldn’t trust God. The Lord God had warned and forbidden them from eating from one particular tree, but they saw that “the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.” The woman and man thought they had a better plan than God, so they grasped at and ate the fruit from that tree. Great evils and painful regrets followed. St. Paul writes how “through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death.” Yet “just as through the disobedience of the [first Adam] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the [new Adam] the many will be made righteous.” Because of the Fall in the Garden, Jesus Christ endures the devil’s temptations in a desert.

Satan hopes to divert the Messiah away from God’s plan to another path. Jesus was very hungry, so the devil said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” But the miracles of bread the Father wished Jesus to perform were not just for himself or for an earthly life of ease. Jesus refuses to turn stones into food, but he would go on to change bread into his Flesh for the eternal life of the world. Then the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, tempting him to choose a trial at the temple free of suffering and death, saying, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, (for God will protect you).” But human redemption would not come without Christ’s Sacrifice. Finally, the devil took Jesus to a mountain top and showed him the world’s magnificent kingdoms, promising, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” But Jesus absolutely rebukes him and rejects his invitation to compromise with evil. Jesus Christ would inaugurate his reign as King of the Universe upon the throne of the Cross.

Jesus achieves God’s purposes for his life and enters into his glory because he entrusts himself to the will of his Heavenly Father. At the beginning of this Lenten season, consider where you cling to your own ways, grasping at hoped-for happiness, against the will of God who wishes for your greatest good and happiness. If you don’t know already where you are resisting God, with your time, your money, your pleasures, your relationships, or your devotions, the Holy Spirit can show you, if you let him. You do not have to change your ways all by yourself, for Jesus Christ is near at hand to help you, but he waits for your permission. The first woman and man thought they had a better plan than God, and were left filled with regrets. Let our Lord accompany and strengthen you against temptation, so that you may share in his triumphant glory.

Posted in Adam and Eve, Christian Perfection, Homily, Jesus Christ, Satan, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Snowball Effects

February 15, 2026

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Once upon a time, a man lived in a cabin on a snowy mountain slope. He liked to go hiking and would climb up to the peak every week. He would rest on the mountain top and take in the sights. He also liked to make snowballs and toss them down the slope, watching them grow bigger and bigger as they rolled. But upon returning to his cabin he would always find it buried in snow and say to himself: “Oh my, golly gee, why does this keep happening to me?” Time and again, he had to shovel out his front door and windows, and though the sun helped melt the snow, it was still a lot of work. And he realized if this pattern continued, his house might be destroyed. So he brought his problem to prayer and the Lord gave him insight.

“Your snowballs are causing the avalanches.”

— “Lord, does this mean that I have to live someplace else?”

“No.”

— “Does this mean I have to stop climbing the mountain?”

“Not necessarily. Just stop tossing snowballs down the slopes.”

— “Okay Lord, but I worry that if I go up there I won’t be able to resist the temptation.”

“Then perhaps go hiking elsewhere.”

This story is a parable about us and our sins. When people lament to me in Confession about repeatedly confessing the same sins, I encourage them: “Thank goodness it’s not random sins every time — the sin of gossip one week and then arson the next — that would be hopeless!” For better or worse, we are creatures of habit. The good thing about this is that we can examine ourselves, understand our patterns of sin, and act to change our sinful habits. And Jesus tells us that turning away from sin is extremely important:

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.”

But does Jesus really want for us to gouge out our eyes and cut off our hands? If your eye really were the cause of your sin, you should pluck it out; but your eye is not really the cause of your sin, any more than the mountain hiker’s cabin was causing the avalanche problem. Yet if sin is so gravely serious that Jesus teaches that (in theory) even body parts should be sacrificed to avoid it, how much more should lesser things which cause us to sin be discarded and left behind?

The season of Lent begins this Wednesday. What are your sins and what patterns do you see in them? In what ways do you toss snowballs down your mountain? Let your answers guide your goals with our Lord this Lent.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Repentance, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

The Light of Christ

January 24, 2026

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Easter Vigil is the greatest Mass in the Church year. Not only is it the first celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, that night we typically also welcome new folks into Christ’s Catholic Church. If you have never attended an Easter Vigil, I eagerly invite you to experience its beauty at least once. My favorite liturgical moment in the entire year is probably the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Candle is blessed and lit from the blessed Easter Fire outside and then carried into the darkened church. The deacon holds that candle in the doorway and chants “The Light of Christ.” The people reply, “Thanks be to God,” and then the priest lights his small candle from the Easter Candle. The procession continues to the center of the church and the proclamation is chanted again (“The Light of Christ” … “Thanks be to God”) then the altar servers light their candles with the Easter Candle’s light. Those servers then light the candles of the congregants, who then light the candles of their neighbors, and so on, until everyone’s candles are lit. The proclamation is chanted for a third time, before the altar, the people respond, and then the Easter Candle is placed in its holder beside the ambo and all the lights in the church are turned on. That night begins in darkness. But then the light of Christ, the light of our Faith, enters in. Our light comes from his light, and we help one another’s candles to be lit.

In today’s first reading, we hear Isaiah foretell a prophesy about the region of Galilee in Northern Israel: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing….” Today’s Gospel affirms that Jesus fulfills that prophesy: “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea… that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled. …And from that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’” Next we see Jesus calling others to follow him. He invites the fishermen Simon and Andrew, James, and John, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They were called to remain close to Jesus, to learn from him, love him, and serve him, and to draw others to Christ and help those people remain in Christ. That is our calling too. To be lit by his light and help in lighting others.

How can you remain close and aflame with Christ? First, Jesus gives us his Sacraments. Faithfully, consistently, commune with him through his Holy Eucharist. And reconcile with him (as needed) through his Sacrament of Penance. Next, learn from Jesus. Listen to him speak through his Inspired Scriptures, the Bible. Listen to him speak through his Holy Church, particularly in the Catechism and (in another sense) through the writings of his saints. Also, spend time with Jesus in prayer. Pray with others (your spouse, your kids, your friends) but also pray alone, here at church and at home, not only speaking but also devoting time to let him speak. And unite with Jesus through Christian service, not only for your household but for our spiritual family, the Church. In these and other ways, you can stay brightly lit by Jesus Christ’s light and help to share his precious light with others.

Posted in Homily, Jesus Christ, Mass, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Momentous Memories

January 18, 2026

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

In this Sunday’s Gospel, St. John the Baptist remembers the experience that revealed Jesus Christ to him. John declares, “The one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ … The reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John recounts how after baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. … Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

John the Baptist was Jesus’ relative and their parents (at least Mary, Elizabeth and Zachariah) had known each other. And in last Sunday’s Gospel reading, John at first refused to baptize Jesus, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Yet John remarks twice in today’s Gospel, “I did not know him.” In what sense did John not know Jesus? Perhaps, since they had lived separate lives for many years, John did not recognize him about whom his parents had presumably spoken until Jesus introduced himself. Or perhaps, as St. Augustine suggests, John knew certain things about Jesus but not others—specifically, that Jesus was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, whom it was John’s mission to reveal.

The other three Gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism likewise note the Holy Spirit’s descent in the likeness of a dove, but they also mention how the voice of God the Father was heard speaking from heaven while John does not. Mark and Luke record those words from heaven as “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” while Matthew records the words slightly differently: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Maybe these are just equivalent expressions, since either statement implies the other. Or, maybe Jesus heard the proclamation one way while those nearby heard it differently, like later at Pentecost when those in the crowd heard a simultaneous proclamation in different languages.

But why doesn’t John’s Gospel include the voice of God the Father speaking at Jesus’ baptism? Maybe the author reasoned that that detail was already sufficiently established by each of the earlier Gospels. (For instance, John’s Gospel does not include Jesus saying “this is my Body” at the Last Supper like Matthew, Mark, and Luke; but John does share the Bread of Life Discourse, in which Jesus says the Bread he will give for us to eat is really his flesh.) Or maybe the author of John’s Gospel did not want to invite any misunderstanding about when God the Father spoke the Eternal Word, his Son. The Sonship of Jesus did not begin on the day of his baptism (as some “adoptionist” heresies claimed); he is eternally begotten.

Yet however much John knew before Jesus’ baptism or whatever words he heard from heaven, after beholding the Holy Spirit come down and land upon Jesus, John the Baptism knew that Jesus Christ was the one whom he was sent to proclaim and make known. That core experience of St. John the Baptist was a powerful support for him in times of hardship thereafter. When he sat in Herod’s dungeon and faced a martyr’s death, remembering what he himself had seen and learned strengthened him through his trials. The same can be said of St. Paul the Apostle. His encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus changed the course of his life forever. Even as Paul suffered emotional burdens and physical deprivations, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, and imprisonments, he could return to that momentous memory and be renewed to joyfully endure in his God-entrusted mission.

What have been your core experiences of the Lord our God? How has he reveal to you his goodness, love, and power? Those personal experiences remain real and true and they’re memories for you to revisit for your inspiration, consolation, and strength—and you should. If you cannot recall any such occasions in your life, I invite you to pray to Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist, and St. Paul the Apostle to be gifted these precious and powerful experiences, for whoever asks receives; and whoever seeks, finds; and for whomever knocks, the door will be opened.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist, St. Paul, Sunday Homilies, Supernatural Phenomena | Leave a Comment »

A River of Life

January 12, 2026

Baptism of the Lord
By Fr. Victor Feltes

When you think of the Jordan River, you maybe imagine a broad and impressive body of water, but you could toss a rock from one bank of the Jordan River to the other. Yet, unlike the many streams and rivers flowing through our green countryside, the Jordan River is one of very few which pass through that mostly arid land. This is the body of water Jesus chose for his baptism; a humble river of life flowing through a desert. Joshua had led God’s Old Covenant people into the earthly Promised Land through this river. Jesus, the new Joshua, leads God’s New Covenant people into the true Promised Land through his holy baptism.

Jesus did not need John’s baptism for himself. John the Baptist perceived this too and tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” But Jesus insisted, so John relented, “to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus is baptized not to be made holy by the water but to make the water holy, so that this most plentiful substance upon the face of the earth could be used in Christ’s gateway sacrament all throughout the world. Jesus was baptized to allow us to be united to him through baptism.

The water, the decent of the Spirit, and the voice of the Father all reflect effects of Christian baptism. Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan reflects what occurred for you and me when we were baptized. Through baptism, our souls were cleansed, the grace of the Holy Spirit was imparted to us, and we were acknowledged as a beloved children of God. Perhaps we take these things for granted: that sins can be forgiven, that the divine can dwell within us, that we can be more than mere slaves to the transcendent God of the universe, that we can be treasured sons and daughters of God. We must remember and appreciate these things, for things that go unappreciated can be neglected to our loss.

The Jordan River flows about 150 miles on the eastern border of Israel, south from the Sea of Galilee down into the Dead Sea. These bodies of water present a spiritual allegory. They symbolize a spiritual reality. The Sea of Galilee is a large freshwater lake full of life. Its water pours out into the Jordan River, and this river flows through the desert to bless its shores with life. But these waters ultimately descent 700 vertical feet down into the Dead Sea, to the lowest place on earth, where it has no place else to go. So there the water sits, evaporating away in the heat, leaving behind trace amounts of salt, which overtime causes the Dead Sea be extremely salty, permitting no plants, fish, or other visible life to live. The pure waters from above, received through the holy stream, bear no life in that recipient. Likewise, the sacraments offer grace from above, through a stream of living water, but in the unrepentant soul they bear no life.

If you are in grave sin, for God’s sake, for your sake, and the sake of those around you, repent and be reconciled to God through his Sacrament of Confession. On Saturday, I had the pleasure of celebrating the first Confessions of our second graders. They were a bit nervous beforehand, but afterwards when I asked them how they felt they answered: ‘Good! Great! Awesome!’ Besides the joy of a cleansed soul and conscience, something that Confession gives is a new beginning, the strength and focus to begin anew. Jesus desires for his graces to flow through you as a fruitful blessing in this spiritually-arid world.

The words of Isaiah in our first reading point to Christ, and you are in Christ because of your baptism. So Isaiah’s inspired words are spoken of every soul in a state of grace: Thus says the Lord: “You are my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you… a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement [and darkness.]”

You might not be called to cry out or shout, making your voice heard in the streets, breaking this and crushing that. But Jesus wants to use you as his powerful instrument to work transforming good in this world. The Lord is still quietly saving souls through his faithful ones, who receive his graces and pour them forth. Cooperate with him for this; for him, for yourself, and for the good of many.

Posted in Baptism of Jesus, Christian Perfection, Feast Day Homilies, Homily, St. John the Baptist, Sunday Homilies, Typology | Leave a Comment »

The Embarrassments of the Magi

January 3, 2026

Feast of the Epiphany
By Fr. Victor Feltes

How often do you feel awkward or embarrassed? I think the Magi felt that way repeatedly in today’s Gospel story.

Who were the Magi? Ancient civilizations east of Israel (such as the Persians and Babylonians) bestowed upon their men of learning the title “Magus.” The Magi we commemorate this day (traditionally identified as Saints Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) apparently studied the heavens—a useful skill for tracking the rainy seasons and deciding when to plant and harvest. The visionary Jewish Prophet Daniel, six centuries before Christ, had served as a wise man in Babylon. Perhaps he left behind instructions about the star to watch for as the signal of the Messiah’s birth.

Some speculate the Star of Bethlehem was a comet, others say it was a supernova, but given the clues in the text and in history the best explanation suggests it was a planet seen in some unique position relative to the other lights of heaven. This is plausible because the ancients regarded the planets as ‘wandering stars’ moving across the fixed constellations. The word “planet” comes from the Greek word for “wanderer.” But whatever sign the Magi beheld, it convinced them a new heir to the Jewish throne was born. So they packed valuable gifts and traveled far from their homeland to honor this newborn king.

St. Matthew records, “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’” But there was no newborn king be found there; at least, no baby in Herod’s household descended from King David, as the Jewish scripture prophesies required for the Christ. This surprised the Magi and perhaps they doubted themselves. “Did we misread the stars? Was the wisdom we were following merely a myth? Did we come all this way for nothing?” But then there was a new ray of hope.

“Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.’” After their audience with the king, they set out on the short journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. “And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them…” This was a sign reconfirming their mission, and “they were overjoyed at seeing the star…” The star somehow “came and stopped over the place where the child was. …And on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

This house in Bethlehem was far humbler than Herod’s great palace. And if even the Magi were not embarrassed to lay face down upon that lowly floor, it must have felt awkward for the Magi to present the luxury gifts they had brought to this needy family. Rather than incense or gum resin, the Holy Family could have gotten more use from blankets, baby clothes, or a goat. But this seeming mistake was providential. The Magi’s gift of gold would come in handy later when the Holy Family was hiding away in Egypt. And besides that gold for a King, the other gifts of the Magi were prophetically symbolic: frankincense, used in temple worship, for a High Priest and Deity; and myrrh, used in Jewish embalming, for a Savior born to die and rise.

“And [then the Magi,] having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, …departed for their country by another way.” Did the Magi share this dream with the Holy Family before departing? If not, how did St. Matthew ever learn of this detail? Regardless, if the Magi recognized a warning of danger in this dream, they may have felt mortified again that their visit to Bethlehem may have placed a target on the Holy Family’s backs. The Magi’s mission had announced in Jerusalem the birth of Christ, but it also led to the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt and Herod’s massacre of the innocents. Yet even Herod’s freely-chosen evil was foreseen by God, who received the souls of his Holy Innocents as martyrs for Christ and fulfilled what was foretold through the Prophet Hosea: “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”

We do not know what this new year ahead holds for us. And like the Magi, sometimes our honest efforts will produce experiences of awkwardness and embarrassment, problems and seeming failures. But even if we don’t always know what we are doing, the Lord knows what he is doing. So strive to please and serve him, and never give up on your life journey’s mission. For just as he did with the Magi, the Lord will incorporate all of our faithful efforts into his great providential story.

Posted in Feast Day Homilies, Homily, The Magi | Leave a Comment »

How Did St. Luke Know?

January 1, 2026

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
By Fr. Victor Feltes

At the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel greeted Mary using an exalted title, saying “Hail, highly favored one! The Lord is with you,” Luke records that the Virgin Mary “was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Nine months later, after the visit of the shepherds at Christmas, today’s Gospel reading says “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” And then twelve years after that, when the boy Jesus was found in the temple and he said, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Mary did not understand what Jesus said to them, but Luke records “his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Mary pondered, reflected on, and all kept these things in her heart. That raises a question: how did St. Luke know these facts to include them in his Gospel?

Did Luke have mystical visions? Did God infuse him with hidden knowledge? That is not how St. Luke describes how he wrote his Gospel. He writes: “Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.” So St. Luke investigated, he did research for his Gospel, and probably interviewed first century eyewitnesses to the events he records. How would folks naturally come to know what Mary pondered, reflected upon, and kept within her heart? By her telling people. That is why some call the early chapters of Luke’s Gospel “The Memoirs of Mary.”

When people pick up praying the Holy Rosary for the first time, their focus tends to be on saying the right words and tracking the beads. But as they get more experienced and comfortable, their focus can shift toward each of the mysteries, and contemplate their deeper meanings and implications. Is it any surprise that the Holy Spirit would providentially promote into history’s most popular Marian devotion the pondering, reflecting upon, and holding in our hearts the events of salvation history? The Holy Rosary is a transforming contemplation with Mary upon the great things God has done.

Besides praying more Rosaries this year, I suggest more contemplation at the end of each day. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the victories and failures from the day, to give thank and praise and ask pardon and new strength. Such daily self-examinations (or examens) are recommended by saints for spiritual growth. And as one year ends and a new year begins, I suggest devoting some time to pondering like Mary. Reflect upon the past year and consider the year ahead, holding in your heart all the good things which are yours in Christ.

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Holy Family Lessons

December 28, 2025

Feast of the Holy Family
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Modern popes (including St. Paul VI, St. John Paul the Great, and Benedict XVI) have reflected upon and recommend the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as a model, an example, for all Christian families to contemplate and learn from. This morning I wish to share some insights for children and parents, husbands and wives, drawn from the Holy Family. First, a reflection on Jesus in relationship to his parents.

The Archangel Gabriel told Mary at the Annunciation, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Then, when an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream he said, “[Mary, your wife,] will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus…” And St. Luke records that indeed, “when eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus…” So Jesus was named by both Joseph and Mary, though his name originated with God. Adam was given authority in the Garden of Eden, reflected by him authoring the names of his wife Eve and all the animals. Jesus’ mother and foster-father were likewise given authority over him, and Luke writes that Jesus “was obedient to them.”

We just heard Sirach’s words that “God sets a father in honor over his children; [and] a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons,” and we heard St. Paul urging “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.” St. Paul notes elsewhere that amongst the Ten Commandments, “Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” And Sirach observes that those who revere and honor their parents receive many earthly and heavenly blessings.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “as they grow up, children should continue to respect their parents. They should anticipate their wishes, willingly seek their advice, and accept their just admonitions.” It says, “obedience toward parents ceases with the emancipation of the children; [but] not so respect, which is always owed to them.” And “as much as they can, [children] must give [parents] material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress.” Jesus supported his parents in the Holy Family. St. Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death because Jesus and Mary would have comforted and cared for him on his deathbed. And one of Jesus’ final deeds before he died on the Cross ensured that his widowed mother would be cared for.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading offers husbands and wives another valuable reflection from the Holy Family. After the Annunciation, the Gospels record no more angelic messages being given to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her husband, Joseph, however receives multiple messages through dreams. First, the angel of the Lord tells Joseph not to fear receiving Mary his wife into his home. Then, as Herod is poised to hunt down the Christ Child, the angel tells Joseph to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt. Once Herod dies, the angel directs Joseph to take them back to the land of Israel. Finally, once Joseph has led his Holy Family back to Israel, he is warned in a dream not to live in the region of Bethlehem (Judea) and decides instead to resettle back up north in Nazareth.

Those messages from heaven came to the leader of the Holy Family, and Mary had to trust and entrust herself to Joseph. Joseph was called to servant-leadership, loving his wife and their child self-sacrificially, even as Christ loves the Church. Mary, in turn, was called to be subordinate to her husband, like a priest to his bishop. Of course, I am not obliged to obey my bishop in things that are immoral or irrational, but otherwise the Lord wills me to be obedient to him as my leader. I can voice my personal preferences to him and I ought to raise my concerns with him, but the ultimate decision and responsibility falls to him. Likewise, St. Paul writes, “Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.” And elsewhere St. Paul teaches in the Spirit, “As the Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.”

Children and parents, husbands and wives, may all of us learn from the Holy Family as our example. And may their prayers beside the throne of God the Father gain us abundant graces to be great and fruitful saints in their likeness.

Posted in Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Marriage and Family, Saintly People, St. Joseph, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

A Manger Sign

December 25, 2025

Christmas Day
Fr. Victor Feltes

The shepherds were in the countryside keeping night watch over their flocks when an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel proclaimed “good news of great joy”: a baby born that day in Bethlehem, a Savior who is Christ and Lord. And the angel gave the shepherds a confirming sign: “You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Seeing a newborn baby swaddled (that is, snugly wrapped up in cloth) would not have been an unusual sight back then. As the Old Testament author of the book called The Wisdom of Solomon writes: “In swaddling clothes and with constant care I was nurtured. For no king has any different origin or birth; one is the entry into life for all…” A much stranger sight for the shepherds on Christmas would be to see a baby in a manger.

Now when I was a kid, I thought the manger in any “manger scene” was the Holy Family’s barn or shelter, but that’s mistaken. A manger is not a building but a feedbox for dry feeds, like grain, for animals to eat. On Christmas, one such manger served as a makeshift cradle. Once the herald angels had departed, the shepherds excitedly said to each other: “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place!” They went in haste into Bethlehem and found the Holy Family, with the newborn King lying in the manger.

The angel had told the shepherds “this will be a sign for you.” Seeing the child in the manger confirmed that they had found the Christ, but this Savior in the manger is a sign for us in another sense. The name of the city of Christ’s birth, Bethlehem, means “House of Bread” in Hebrew. Finding our Lord inside a box for eating grain within the House of Bread is a sign for us foreshadowing the Holy Eucharist. Jesus would go on to teach us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

God’s Son became man for a closer unity with humanity; “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The shepherds in the countryside and the Magi in a distant land were called to draw nearer to Christ at his dwelling place in Bethlehem. But Jesus offers and calls us to an even closer union with him, within this church, his dwelling place. Jesus declares, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. … Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” When Jesus teaches us to pray for daily bread he wants us to eat more than only once or twice a year. As normal food sustains our natural lives, so we need “the Bread from heaven” to sustain our spiritual lives, to remain in Christ and he in us.

Behold, as a messenger of the Lord, I proclaim to you good news of great joy: Jesus Christ, who is Savior and Lord, has come down from heaven. Born long ago in Bethlehem, he remains really present for us here today. Please allow the miracle of Christmas to produce enduring fruit in you. Return here to Christ’s dwelling place each Sunday and holy day, to adore him and receive him in his Holy Eucharist. Through his Incarnation, Jesus chose to become one of us; but through his Holy Eucharist, he wishes to remain one with you.

 

Posted in Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Nativity, Real Presence | Leave a Comment »

Born to Die & Rise — Funeral Homily for Matthew “Matt” Jaworski, 63

December 23, 2025

By Fr. Victor Feltes

In one sense, no date on the calendar is a good time for a funeral. Any day for a loved one’s funeral rites will feel off, discordant. But today, on this eve of Christmas Eve, it feels like an especially strange time to have Matt’s funeral. We will soon be marking the glorious birth of Baby Jesus — how God becomes man and lives among us. We rightly celebrate that as one of the most joyous feasts of the year. But the life and joy of Christmas seems to be stark contrast with the loss and sadness of today. And yet it may be said that Jesus Christ “was born to die.” If Jesus Christ, the God-Man, had lived without ever becoming our redeeming sacrifice, we would still remain hostages to Satan, sin, death, and suffering forever. Instead, God the Father “did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all.”

The signs of Christ’s salvific mission were there from the beginning. The very name “Jesus” (or “Yeshua”) means “God Saves.” He was born in the hometown of David the shepherd-king, at Bethlehem, from where lambs to be sacrificed at the temple came. Jesus would go on to be sacrificed as our Good Shepherd-King, at Jerusalem, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. On Christmas night, his Mother Mary wrapped his body in cloth and laid him down inside a borrowed cave. Years later on Good Friday, she would wrap his body in cloth again and lay his body down inside another borrowed cave. Jesus’ Christmas birth and Easter resurrection, these sources for our hope, did not come without difficult trials.

The first Christmas was not easy but the Holy Family was always in God’s care. Imagine being poor, being far from home, and having your first child in a place for animals. Yet Mary and Joseph carried faith and peace within them, from the words and miracles from heaven recorded in salvation history and experienced in their own lives. Jesus Christ’s young and unexpected death stunned those who knew and loved him; however, even that awful day was foreseen in heaven’s providence. God’s Beloved One was remembered and soon would rise again. Blessed were those who mourned for him and prayed for him, for they were soon comforted. Matt’s unexpected passing saddens and a day like this is always painful. But we carry faith and hope from God, for Matt—for whom we pray—and for every one of us. Though God’s beloved one must pass through Good Friday, Christmas leads us to Easter joy.

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Jesus & The Wingless Angels

December 22, 2025

4th Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Today, Jesus reminds us that our earthly experience is limited to a specific time. We all think that our time here on earth is unlimited, but it is not. We are given a certain time to accept or reject our requested vocation in life: to love God and neighbor. Let me share with you Deacon Dick’s call and views on a vocation of love and service.

When I was about six or seven years old, my dad and I went to Reetz’s Grocery Store to buy some meat. At that time, the grocery part was run by Lorraine Reetz and her sister Jean Reetz. Jean was not a very smiley person, but she was in charge of checking out the customers. One day, Dad was buying meat at the meat counter, and I heard a yell from the checkout counter. Jean was checking out someone, and when she overfilled the bag, it broke, with all the groceries falling on the ground. I saw that and ran over to Jean to help her repackage the bag that had broken. I saw her give me the biggest smile ever. From that day on, she always put me—who she called “Dickie”—in the front of the line to check out whenever I went to their store. Jean never forgot that event for years to come. She was to me a wingless angel.

Today we find that Mary is confronted by an angel to be the mother of God. We also find Joseph, who finds a person he is in love with and engaged to, is pregnant. Mary had an angel ask for her help. Joseph had another angel tell him she did not betray him. Who do we look to for truth in what God desires of our life? The answer is Jesus and the Body of Christ, His Church. Both Mary and Joseph had faith to believe the unbelievable. Who do we have? The answer is the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ—service people, who I call the “Wingless Angels.”

When I was contemplating becoming a deacon, I did not want to become seen as a “holy roller.” The Dick I had grown up with could not handle that. I told God I would give it a try, but I felt He should give this job to someone more qualified than myself. Well, God gave me mentors. He gave me a wife, a son, and a daughter-in-law who give themselves in service to me and to others. He gave me parents who always put others in front of their own desires. He gave me friends and relatives who always looked out for others, even if it meant sacrificing their time so others could have some good time. He gave me my priest friends who showed me that just because you are holy doesn’t mean there is something not right with you—men who loved their vocation in life and serving God and His children. All were and are “wingless angels.”

When I was considering whether I should go through the program to become a deacon, I sat one Saturday at a bar with my best friend. I told him I was thinking about becoming a deacon and wanted his input on whether I should go on. He looked at me and said, “Go for it!” Another angel without wings. Finally, I looked at the parishioners of St. Paul’s and St. John’s—people who shared much of their life in service to their Church and to the community at large. Although many times they looked tired, they always had a smile on their face when serving God’s children. People who are and were truly “Wingless Angels.” I will close with an email I recently sent to my only granddaughter who began dating. I told her to choose her friends closely and to look to people who look to helping others more than they look to themselves. She answered me with a smiley face with tears on it. Barb asked me what that meant, and I said, “I think she got it!” Another angel without wings? I hope so!

Through the birth of Jesus—a “skin-on Person of God”—He gave us a great gift for Christmas: the angels without wings, people with “skin on,” to help direct our lives and be happy serving others. Food for thought before you celebrate Christmas? Without Mary and Joseph saying “Yes,” there might be no Jesus, no Church, and no Body of Christ. There might be no angels without wings! Jesus invites all children of God to join Him at Mass, and He will provide them with a meal of Himself—food that Fr. Tom called “angel food,” energy food that will put a smile on your face as you serve His children. Finally, Jesus told me to tell you, “Wingless Angel folks,” thanks for saying “Yes” and loving others as He loves us, and that He is preparing a room for you. And for those of you who are being called to become “Wingless Angels,” and who—like this deacon—questioned the wisdom of Jesus in calling you into the College of Saints, Jesus responds with a grin on His face and tells you: “Be still and know that I Am!”

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You Can Ask Jesus Your Questions

December 13, 2025

3rd Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

St. John the Baptist, despite his continued imprisonment, had heard about the works Jesus was doing and sent two of his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” John was no pushover, not some reed swayed by the wind, but from this question we can gather that while John sat in Herod’s prison some doubt arose about whether Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah.

Notice how Jesus reacts to the question. He does not lose his temper or condemn them for asking. He gives them a helpful response: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” In other words: “Report to John my mighty works for these show that I am the Messiah of whom Isaiah wrote (e.g., ‘Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.’) How I accomplish my purposes may appear strange, but remember that a person who takes no offense at me is blessed.” Jesus was patient with people who asked him questions in good faith.

Nicodemus did not want to be seen in public with Jesus. That’s why Nicodemus approached him at night. But Jesus still engaged with his questions. The Samaritan woman at the well may have first thought the man speaking to her was weird, but Jesus invited her probing questions. And the rich young man who asked Jesus about the way to eternal life wasn’t quite ready to fully commit to following Christ, but Jesus looked at him, loved him, and gave personalized responses. Despite their flaws, they asked Jesus questions in good faith and Jesus answered them. What Jesus does not like is questions asked in bad faith.

When the Pharisees would set traps for him, Jesus knew their ill intent, saying, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?” He knew they were just looking for ways to condemn and reject him. And when Jesus appeared before King Herod during his Passion, Herod questioned him at length because he had heard about him and hoped to see him perform some sign. But when Jesus gave him no replies, Herod treated him with contempt and mocked him and sent him away. Wicked Herod was merely curious about Jesus and uninterested in repenting of his sins. We should not test God like the Pharisees and Herod did. Jesus delights, however, in genuine seekers and is pleased to answer them.

“Whoever asks, receives,” and “whoever seeks, finds,” though the answer might not be instantaneous. Job, while doing nothing wrong, questioned for some time before the Lord answered him. Sometimes our answer is already readily available through Christ’s Church, and we should listen to him through her. But sometimes God, who is supremely brilliant and creative, will answer us through different avenues (though without contradicting himself). Sometimes his answer will come during prayer, or maybe through something we providentially see or hear, or perhaps through a friend or a stranger.

What are your questions for the Lord? I encourage you to ask him and keep your eyes and ears and heart open. If you’re seeking the truth and not seeking excuses; if you’re looking to love and serve Jesus better, pay Christ the compliment of approaching him as the One who knows all things and loves you. Blessed is the one who does so.

Posted in Discernment, Homily, Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist, Sunday Homilies, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

From Eden to Nazareth

December 8, 2025

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
By Fr. Victor Feltes

In the story of Genesis, the Lord God declares to the serpent: “I will put enmity [that is, hostility] between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” There is more going on here than an account of humanity’s dislike for slithering, venomous snakes. That tempter at the Fall was not a mere snake. The Book of Revelation identifies “the ancient serpent” as “the Devil and Satan.” And the Church saw in that declaration of the Lord God in Genesis the first proclamation of the Gospel, the Protoevangelium, foretelling what God intended to do to accomplish our salvation through Jesus Christ. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers…” (or literally in the Hebrew) “between your seed and her seed”. That’s curious, since folks typically speak of the seed a man rather than the seed of a woman. Who is this woman whom God decrees to be in a state of opposition to Satan, whose Son would suffer due to the Evil One until he crushed the Serpent’s head?

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin in the city of Nazareth named Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Gabriel hails Mary with a title, like people cried “Hail, King of the Jews” during Jesus’ Passion. But the angel is not speaking ironically like Jesus’ tormentors and the angel does not lie. What we translate into English as “full of grace” has a deeper meaning in the original Greek. Heaven’s messenger calls Mary “Kecharitomene,” a perfect passive participle of a word which means “to fill or endow with grace.” Because it is in the Greek perfect tense, it declares Mary was graced as a completed action in the past but with effects continuing to the present. Mary had already been prepared by God for that moment, to become the sinless, grace-filled mother of our Incarnate Lord.

So why did God do this? One reason is so that she could give to God a full and free “Yes.” Once the angel explained that she would give birth to the Messiah and that this child would be God’s Son conceived by the Holy Spirit, Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace.” (CCC #490) Mary says “Yes” to God not due to coercive fears, nor from selfish motives, but freely and faithfully on behalf of all Creation and the Holy Church to be.

Another reason God created her pure and filled her with grace, was to make her a fitting mother — not only for her Son but all his Christian siblings, his brothers and sisters, including you and me. She is the New Eve who, by her faithful loving obedience, “became the mother of all the living.” Today we celebrate with Blessed Mary how the Almighty has done great things for her, through which we now have Jesus Christ our Lord and a heavenly mother who knows us and loves us and prays for us now.

Posted in Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast Day Homilies, Homily | Leave a Comment »

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