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The Thirsty Fountain

March 7, 2026

3rd Sunday of Lent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

When the Samaritan woman in John’s Gospel meets Jesus at the well, he says to her, “Give me a drink.” She replies with surprise that he, a Jew, would ask her, a Samaritan woman, for a drink (since Jews used nothing in common with Samaritans). And then Jesus says to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” So Jesus thirsts, and yet at the same time he says he has water to offer her. Jesus in his human nature experienced natural thirst for natural drink, noting “everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.” But Jesus adds “the water I shall give… will become in [a person] a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Later in John’s Gospel, in Jerusalem during a Jewish feast, Jesus stands up and exclaims, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.” But then, on Good Friday as he hangs upon his Cross, Jesus says, “I thirst.” And when he died and was pierced in the side, “immediately blood and water flowed out.” Thus, Jesus may be called the “Thirsty Fountain.”

St. Teresa of Calcutta, foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, had Jesus’ words “I Thirst” placed beside the crucifix inside of every one of their chapels. Psalm 22 prophesied about Christ’s sufferings when it said, “As dry as a potsherd is my throat; my tongue cleaves to my palate… They have pierced my hands and my feet.” But Mother Teresa recognized that when Jesus said “I Thirst” on the Cross, he spoke of something more profound than merely his physical dehydration. As Jesus pours himself out for us, he thirsts to love us and to be loved by us. In a letter to her religious community in March of 1993, Mother Teresa wrote: “‘I thirst’ is something much deeper than Jesus just saying ‘I love you.’ Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you – you can’t begin to know who He wants to be for you. Or who He wants you to be for Him.” And such reflections did not only originate with Mother Teresa. For instance, St. Gregory Nazianzen wrote in the 4th century, “God is thirsting to be my thirst.”

The Samaritan woman at the wall balked at Jesus’ first words to her (“Give me a drink”) for she thought, ‘How could a Jew want anything from me?’ We, likewise, might resist the idea that God would want us. He is infinite while we are finite. He is perfect while we are flawed. How could God, complete and happy in himself, ever desire us? It is not from any necessity or lack within God. It was not necessary for God create us. And God was not morally obliged to redeem us from sin and death. But “God is love,” and we see that Infinite Divine Love likes to overflow for others. St. Paul wrote to the Romans that “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Other people may resist the idea of Christ thirsting for their souls, not due to philosophical or theological objections, but because they find the idea hard to personally connect with, as happens with other inspired Christian metaphors. For instance, the Church is Christ the Bridegroom’s the beloved Bride whom he cherishes and protects that she might be holy and beautiful. That imagery may feel more relatable to women than men. At the same time, men may more readily relate to the call for all Christians to be priests, prophets, and kings in Christ; sanctifying, teaching, servant-leading as other Christs. If Jesus longing for your soul feels too romantic in connotation, remember how our Lord eagerly longs to lead heroes and heroines. The saints are his friends who are willing to sacrifice in his service. “Only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.” Jesus longs for souls who, with the courage and grace he outpours, are willing to lay down their lives for him as he laid down his life for us.

In conclusion, increase your thirst for Christ who thirsts for you, and drink deeply of the peace, virtue, wisdom, and love which flow out from him. You will never exhaust that Divine Fountain.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Jesus Christ, Love, St. Mother Teresa, Sunday Homilies, Woman at the Well | Leave a 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 »

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 »

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 »

Heralding the Best Path

December 7, 2025

2nd Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

St. John the Baptist taught his hearers that the time had come for them to take action and change course. St. Matthew writes it was of John the Baptist the Prophet Isaiah spoke when he foretold of “a voice of one crying out in the desert,” saying, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…” So what is this imagery about?

In ancient times, preceding a king’s journey somewhere, a messenger would be sent ahead to announce how people should get ready for the royal arrival. One practical task was to improve his road: removing rocks, filling potholes, and smoothing ruts. For the coming of the King of kings, Isaiah even envisions lowering mountains and raising valleys to form a straight and level highway. John the Baptist calls everyone to reevaluate our priorities to better prepare the way for encountering Christ.

An angel of the Lord had announced to the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, that John’s mission had an intergenerational component. John was to “turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” St. John, inspiring adults to seek the very best for children and to form them in godly ways, would “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.” Today, I wish to inspire you to do the same for children now through our St. Paul’s Catholic Grade School.

We have an excellent Catholic school. For our most recent reaccreditation, administrators from four other Catholic schools thoroughly evaluated us and told us: “You have a beautiful school.” “[It’s] welcoming, faith-filled, and charming!” “[It’s] filled with excellent educational instruction.” “[There are] high expectations.” “The students are so well-mannered.” “[And there are] great relationships between teachers and students.” And all of them agreed, “We wish we could work at your school.”

Our highly-qualified teachers can provide one-on-one attention in a wholesome environment more like a family than a factory. And we have great young people who positively influence each other. Our reinvigorating new principal, Mr. Brad Cody, has been struck by our students’ respectfulness and politeness, noting how in all his time here he has yet to hear any student swear. Our behavioral expectations, our academic expectations, and our moral expectations are not found in many other schools today. St. Paul’s devoted teachers and substitutes who have taught in both worlds can attest to the differences in our Catholic school.

God and Christ’s teachings are not excluded here. We have daily prayer, weekly Mass, Confession, and seasonal devotions. Our students get to know Catholic clergy beyond just at Sunday Mass, like when we eat our excellent school lunches with them at their tables. Our littlest ones enjoy the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which introduces Christianity to them in an engaging way on their level. And while people of all faiths are welcome at our school, the Catholic Faith is taught and lived.

Our 4K through 8th grade Catholic school prepares the way for the Lord without the rocks, ruts, and pitfalls found in other paths; a smooth and straight road for children to get to know Jesus Christ and walk forward with him together. So if you or your acquaintances have school-aged children, please work to get them enrolled here in 2026. Make a call, take a tour. School Choice makes tuition free at higher incomes than you would think. But even families who don’t qualify can receive grants and scholarships we offer, so do not imagine cost to be an obstacle. In addition to recruiting for our great school, I invite you to join our work in person. We could always use more playground supervisors, substitute teachers, or helpers in the library, office, or classrooms.

It’s not so much that our Catholic school has a mission, as our Catholic mission here in Bloomer has a school. Please help prepare the way for our Lord, make straight our children’s paths, by supporting our St. Paul’s Catholic School.

Posted in Childhood, Christian Perfection, Homily, St. John the Baptist, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Our Crucified King

November 23, 2025

Solemnity of Christ the King
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Our English word “Excruciating” comes from the Latin words for “Cross” and “Torment.” The Romans did not invent crucifixion, the Persians and the Greeks practiced it first, but the Romans more widely used the method. It was an easy way to execute people very visibly, horrifically, and slowly as a warning example to others. Typically, when the Romans crucified someone, they would place a sign above the condemned person’s head to indicate why they were being killed. St. John’s Gospel records that Governor Pilate put a sign on Jesus’ Cross written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. You sometimes see the initials “INRI” atop crucifixes. This represents the Latin phrase “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum,” the charge against our Lord. That is, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” He was killed because of who he was and who he is: Jesus the Christ and the King of the universe.

Of course, the people who killed him did not believe this. They thought he was deluded or a fraud. Hence, the triple call for him to save himself and prove them wrong. The Jewish rulers sneered and said, “Let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” The Roman soldiers jeered and called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” And one of the criminals reviled him by saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” Could Jesus have saved himself from his crucifixion?

St. John’s Gospel quotes Jesus before his Passion saying, “No one takes (my life) from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” And St. Matthew quotes Jesus later declaring in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” So Jesus possessed the power to escape the Cross, but that was not the will or plan of God, which the Eternal Son was party to from the beginning. Jesus assumes “our bone and our flesh” to achieve our reconciliation as a descendant of David, “making peace by the blood of his Cross.” Perhaps the Holy Trinity could have inspired less painful prophecies to achieve our redemption and forgiveness of our sins, but Christ’s crucifixion is what they chose. They chose this path to win our love.

Matthew and Mark’s Gospels suggests that the Penitent Thief (traditionally known as St. Dismas) had derided Jesus, too, at first. But seeing the extraordinary way Jesus acted, hearing the things he said, all while crucified, won over that man’s mind and heart. ‘This man has done nothing criminal and this is how he dies? He truly knows my suffering and this is how he lives. This is the Christ I want to be allied with.’ St. And Luke quotes him saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

That movement saved the man’s soul, and we enjoy the benefit of understanding Jesus Christ even better than him. St. Paul writes that God “proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Be moved by this manifestation of God’s great love. Submit to Jesus Christ as your King so that he may be your Savior and one day we may all be with him in Paradise.

Posted in Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Jesus Christ, Love, Passion, Redemptive Suffering, Salvation, Salvation History, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

A Vision of the Saints in Heaven

November 1, 2025

Solemnity of All Saints
By Fr. Victor Feltes

On this All Saints’ Day, let us consider what we can look forward to living as saints in heaven one day. But first, how does one get to heaven?

At the moment of death, our immortal souls will separate from our mortal bodies and go immediately to our particular judgment. There we will be judged according to our faith and deeds in Christ, based upon our connection to Christ and our love of God and neighbor. Then our personal punishment or reward will begin: either immediate and everlasting damnation, or entrance into the everlasting blessedness of heaven —either immediately or after the purifying process of purgatory. One day, the dead will arise and the saints will experience a new heavens and new earth in their glorified resurrected bodies. But for now, the saints only experience heaven through their souls (with the Blessed Virgin Mary being a notable exception). When someday, by the grace of God, we are saints in heaven, here are some things we will enjoy.

One thing to look forward to is probably having a perfect memory. A colleague of the genius mathematician and physicist John von Neumann writes “one of his remarkable abilities was his power of absolute recall. …Von Neumann was able on once reading a book or article to quote it back verbatim; moreover, he could do it years later without hesitation. …. On one occasion I tested his ability by asking him to tell me how A Tale of Two Cities started. Whereupon, without any pause, he immediately began to recite the first chapter and continued until asked to stop after about ten or fifteen minutes.” If this is possible with a frail human brain, how much more knowledge could our unhindered souls retain?

Another perk of being a saint in heaven is great ease in doing whatever is best. When in the unveiled presence of God, “we shall see him as he is,” and discerning God’s will should be easy. And our perfected virtues will make it easy to do what is good and right, for we shall be “pure, as he is pure.”

Another extraordinary blessing in heaven is having innumerable friends. In St. John’s vision of heaven he beholds “a great multitude which no one could count from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” Every saint in heaven has become an incredible person perfected in Christ’s beatitudes and love. There will be no lack of time to get to know people and with your perfect memory you’ll never forget anyone’s name or stories.

Yet the greatest joy in heaven is the beatific vision of God. Sometimes people worry the restful reward of seeing God and worshipping him forever will be dull. Don’t worry, heaven will never be boring. Every good and beautiful thing in Creation which you have ever delighted in has its origin in God who is supremely good, beautiful, and delightful. You have yet to fully exhaust the joys to be experienced in just one culture in one country in one century of human history, so do not imagine you will exhaust the joys to be found in our infinite God.

These are things to look forward to someday in heaven, but on this All Saints’ Day I wish to remind you that the saints in heaven know us and love us now. Yesterday, an online friend shared with me a beautiful story about the intercession of the saints and he has given me permission to share his story with you.

In January of 2018, his father suffered a massive heart attack at home. In the Emergency Room, they were able to restart his heart, but there was almost 100% arterial blockage and likely serious brain damage from the lack of oxygen. Some of the best doctors in the world could do nothing more to help. So the next day, all the family gathered to share final moments as they withdrew the mechanical life support. My friend writes:

I remember sitting in the room, in the cardiology unit there, praying my brains out for a miracle, as he lay dying. Just focused on nothing else but praying, praying, praying. Eyes closed, focused on nothing else. Praying, praying, praying for some miracle. And then I suddenly wasn’t in the hospital room anymore.

I was sitting on a bench in what to me appeared to be a huge football stadium, or more like a Roman circus (those long chariot tracks), stretching further in each direction than I could see (even the opposite side was so far away I couldn’t see it). And every seat was filled with people, all dressed differently (though most of them were in robes, in the section I was in), and all praying in different languages.

Their prayers collectively seemed like a buzzing, or the sound of a waterfall, because they were individually indistinct—countless voices all praying at once. But it was clear that each one of them were praying, non-stop, for me, my dad, and for everybody in the world.

And it was in that instant that it was told to me that I could stop praying—(“Look, all these Saints have the whole ‘praying for your dad’ thing covered for the moment…”)—and use the few moments my dad had left with us to just be with him, hold his hand, tell him that I love him and say goodbye to him. So that’s what I did. And I’m very grateful to this day that I did.

Why was my friend’s vision of the saints set in a long racetrack stadium? I recognize in this a reference to the Letter to Hebrews, which says, “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” So be sure to befriend the saints and call upon them, because they know you, and they love you, and they eagerly want you to join their number.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Feast Day Homilies, Heaven, Homily, Last Things, Saintly People, Sunday Homilies | 1 Comment »

How The Pharisee Fell Short

October 26, 2025

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

When the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable went up to the temple, he stood and spoke this prayer to himself: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.” And yet, Jesus tells us that this Pharisee did not go home justified, or righteous in God’s sight. Why is that?

When the Pharisee said ‘I am not like the rest of humanity — I am not greedy, dishonest, or adulterous…’ was it true that he had conquered sin? Very likely not. Psalm 130 rhetorically asks, “If you, O Lord, should mark our iniquities, who could stand?” And the Gospels record Jesus criticizing the Pharisees repeatedly, saying things like “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” But assuming this Pharisee quietly spoke his prayer to himself in a way which no one else could hear, why would he lie? Maybe he believed everything he said.

When we compare ourselves to others, like this Pharisee compared himself to the tax collector, we can imagine the great faults of others make our own faults unimportant. But just because somebody else is ten billion dollars in debt doesn’t mean that I am solvent. My own debts still remain. Some people accuse and make much of others’ sins because they are projecting at others what they dislike in themselves. It is much easier to condemn the faults in others than to change the faults in me.

Another phenomenon common to people and cultures is to condemn a person or group for the problems of the day. Sometimes, these are merely scapegoats for shifting blame. At other times, particular persons really are at fault and should be corrected or stopped. But we should not imagine that we can banish, purge, and kill our way to earthly paradise. Even after the Great Flood in Genesis, sinners disembarked from Noah’s ark. As the Christian Russian dissident and winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, famously wrote: “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

The Pharisee’s heart was probably not so pure of sin as he thought. He needed Jesus Christ to cleanse and heal and change it. But imagine if it really were true that the Pharisee was unlike the rest of humanity; not greedy, not dishonest, and not adulterous. Why then did this Pharisee not go home justified before God? What more did he lack?

Our Gospel tells us Jesus addressed today’s parable “to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” The Pharisee looked down on that tax collector and despised him with contempt. Greed, dishonesty, and adultery are hateful things, but Jesus forbids us from hating anyone. Jesus says you will be hated, you will have enemies, but he commands you to “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.” If there is ever people you may be hating, be sure to pray for them (since you cannot pray for someone — willing their good — and hate them at the same time). Otherwise, when you die and you see someone whom you hate on the other side of the pearly gates, you might refuse to enter into Heaven.

Without ever denying right and wrong, without ceasing to share the truth, we must remain humble as sinners living among sinners. ‘For whoever exalts himself amongst others will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’ That’s some food for prayerful thought today as we stand to pray in this temple and go back to our homes in the world.

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

Imitate What They Contain — Funeral Homily for Mary Jo Meuli, 83

October 14, 2025

By Fr. Victor Feltes

Mary Jo lived with a special devotion to our spiritual mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and she looked forward to journeying beyond death to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Besides coming to Holy Mass and helping bring Christ in Holy Communion to others, Mary Jo prayed the Holy Rosary daily, sometimes several times a day, growing her in her Christian likeness to Jesus and Mary. When a person picks up the practice of the Rosary for the first time, much of one’s attention is focused on tracking the beads and remembering the prayers. But with more experience, the words and the beads can drift to the background, clearing a place for meditation on its Holy Mysteries.

These twenty mysteries of the Rosary help us reflect upon joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious episodes from salvation history. Mary is a firsthand witness to about three-fourths of these events. So for instance, we can contemplate Jesus with Mary at the Nativity and hold the Baby Jesus in our arms. We can consider how much Jesus loves us to become incarnate as one like us, and be moved to love him in return. We can stand with Mary at the Crucifixion, at the foot of Jesus’ Cross, and share in her compassion for her Beloved Son. We can behold Jesus’ heroic virtues in his sufferings for us, refusing to spare himself, and resolve to do hard things for him in return.

Prayerfully meditating upon the Rosary helps us to become more like Jesus and Mary. The same is true with the Beatitudes. Who is poor in spirit, relying completely on God? Who mourns and meekly, non-violently, hungers and thirsts for what is right? Who is merciful and clean of heart? Who promotes peace, yet is persecuted for the sake of righteousness? Jesus and Mary and the saints are like this, and we are called to be like them. As St. Paul our patron says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” so that we may “conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.” And God will help us do so, if we give him our “Yes.”

In her final season of living with illness, Mary Jo told every new doctor she met: “I’m ready.” And thirteen years to the day after her husband Allan’s death, she passed on as well. Pray for Mary Jo’s soul, in case any impurity remains within her gold, so that as a perfect offering God may take her to himself. And learn from her example, for blessed are those who grow in the likeness of Jesus and Mary and the saints, ‘for their reward will be great in Heaven.’

Posted in Blessed Virgin Mary, Christian Perfection, Funeral Homilies, Homily, Jesus Christ, Rosary, Saintly People | Leave a Comment »

Two Lessons from the Ten Lepers

October 12, 2025

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

I want to highlight two lessons from this Sunday’s Gospel which could greatly bless your life and soul. When ten lepers meet Jesus at the edge of a village, they keep a respectful distance from him. (Their skin disease made them religiously unclean and people feared them as being contagious.) The lepers shout out: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus sees them and tells them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” (The Old Covenant had a ritual for declaring lepers clean involving a physical inspection by a priest and a sacrifice.)

So the ten depart as they are commanded to by Christ and as they are going their skin diseases are cleansed. Notice how the lepers were not cleansed right away—they were not healed the moment Jesus spoke to them. They were going when they were healed, maybe miles away from Jesus when it happened. In this miracle, they were healed while walking in obedience.

Many blessings in our faith are only experienced once we step out in obedience. First we do what Jesus asks of us, in response to his grace which goes before and follows after us, and then we see its fruits in our lives. As you read this list of examples, which one or two are meant for you to add into your life?

• Daily prayer
• Consistent Sunday Mass-going
• Keeping Sunday rest
• Generous tithing
• Forgiving enemies
• Staying sober
• Volunteering
• Practicing chastity
• Being open to life
• Living more simply
• Regular confession
• Eucharistic adoration
• Going on a spiritual retreat or pilgrimage
• Entering a seminary, convent, or monastery
• Attending weekday Mass
• Praying the Rosary

Embracing one or two of these according to God’s will shall bless you and your loved ones. This Sunday’s Gospel story also suggests another valuable lesson.

One of those ten lepers happens to be a Samaritan, and once he realizes he has been healed, he goes back to Jesus. Glorifying God in a loud voice, he falls at Jesus’ feet and thanks him. Jesus says in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he tells the newly cured man, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Jesus informs us that all ten lepers were cured. But consider this: eventually, each of those lepers died. Even if it was many years later from some cause of death other than a skin disease, every one of them died. Their healings were a great thing, but not the most important thing. The Samaritan’s healing produced in him great gratitude toward Jesus Christ and God the Father. He eventually lost the gift of good health, but his relationship with God could endure forever.

Some people only pray to God when they need something. But for Christ to fix our problems without us engaging in deeper relationship and gratitude towards him profits us little. Do not be one of those who are locked outside the door to whom the Master of the House will say, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.” It is good for us to say, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us,” like the ten lepers did. But let us always remember gratitude and relationship with the Giver of all good gifts.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Gratitude, Homily, Jesus Christ, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Stewardship Sunday & The Hug

September 22, 2025

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Deacon Dick Kostner

Today Jesus gives to us a new parable to ponder and think about. God gives to his followers the responsibility of being the body of Christ, a visible flesh and blood team of his to carry out the 11th Commandment Jesus gave us to “love as he has loved us.” His parable story tells us that one of his stewards was cheating and was caught. He was called to account for his dealings and knowing that he would lose his job he gave gifts of his master’s assets to debtors owing the master in hopes that the debtors would give him a place to stay after he lost his job. He was in a sense providing for himself and his future.

The master, instead of condemning his actions, commended the steward for acting prudently and taking action to provide for his future welfare. Once again Jesus tells us to spend our life doing things that will gain us a place to stay with him in heaven after our earthly life ends. Things that will give us a high place in heaven and a room to be proud of at the Father’s house. The responsibility is great for all of us to be good and faithful stewards of God’s heavenly assets. But why does God ask for our help in building the Kingdom of God here on earth?

I am reminded of a story that Fr. John Heagle told our Parish during a talk on Stewardship many years ago. He is the brother of Larry Heagle the song writer of the Wood Tick Song we all enjoy listening to every spring. He told the story of attending a party at his Nieces house one evening. His Niece had a young daughter and had sent her to her upstairs room to go to bed before the party started. After the party got going, the child came downstairs and told her mother she could not get to sleep and that she was afraid. The mother took her upstairs but after the third time she came down, the mother was getting impatient with her and said, “Why are you afraid? Don’t you know that God will protect you?” The child looked at her and finally said, “I know Mama that God will protect me, but sometimes you just need to have someone with ‘skin on’ to feel safe.”

God knows that as humans we sometimes need to have someone to grab a hold of, someone with skin on to give us a hug and get us through our difficulties of life. The solution was to send his son, Jesus, a divine human being, to teach us and help us get through the crosses of life. And when Jesus went up to heaven to join the Father, Jesus gave us His Church, to be the Steward for His children who need someone to grab a hold of when the crosses of life get too heavy for us to carry it alone.

Recently I had one of our Parishioners stop to thank me while I was smoking pork roasts to serve people who work at the Pavilion. She knew that I had been praying for her to come back to our parish as her attendance at Mass has been missed by our Parish family. She said, “I just can’t believe that a Deacon, would be praying for me to come back to Church!” I told her that she was missed not only by me but by other Parish members, and that I pray for all people who have left and for one reason or another not come back to join us, to give thanks at Mass, for all the gifts we have received. She thanked me again and said, “Can I ask one more question? Can I have a hug?? I told her sure, but I probably smell like smoke.” We hugged and I told her that I hope to see her at Mass at St. Paul’s soon.

As humans, we all will encounter difficulties in life but one thing is for sure, we all need to seek help from a higher power to get through difficult times. We have all witnessed and seen how suicides have sky rocketed in the last few years. And I am sure that the Church Parishes in our world have seen a drop in church attendance especially in younger adults. People need their Church, and God, a higher power, to overcome depression. Priests continue to be in short supply for many communities. Many are saying that the answer for the priest shortage is caused by priests not being allowed to marry. If you want my opinion on that I believe that priests would not be able to take on any more responsibility than what they now have. They have more than enough people to care for without adding a spouse and children to the list of people they care for. Yes, a spouse can and is support for her husband. And yes I would miss my wife keeping me proper, like telling me I have holes in my tee-shirts or that my socks don’t match, or I am getting too “heady” with my homilies, but I also know that priests already have an army of gals in any parish they serve at, that will take care of any problems pastors run into trying to be successful in their chosen vocation. I believe that’s why God gifts women with what I call extra Holy Spirit to take care of our deficiencies.

Back to the rise in suicides. Young and old alike, my take is that cell phones and Zoom will never be able to compete with or replace a good hug from a steward mentor of Christ, in helping us get through and overcome all the challenges of life. And for that I say: “Amen!”

Posted in Homily, Stewardship, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Lifted Up & Exalted

September 13, 2025

Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross
By Fr. Victor Feltes

During their long Exodus journey, the Hebrews once again began rebelling, despising God and his servant Moses. They even sinfully complained about the Manna bread God was providing for their survival in the desert saying, “We are disgusted with this wretched food!” So God sent venomous serpents—or perhaps he merely lifted his shield of protection around their camp—resulting in many getting snakebitten and dying. So the people repented and pleaded with Moses, who prayed to the Lord. The Lord then commanded Moses to fashion a bronze serpent and affix it to a pole so that whoever looked at it would live. Moses and the Hebrews did not realize this at the time, but that bronze serpent on a wooden pole was a symbol pointing ahead to Jesus Christ who would die for our sins on his wooden Cross so that we may live.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the same Greek verb to declare, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” And the inspired author notes, “[Jesus] said this indicating the kind of death he would die.” But this same Greek word for “lifted up” or “exulted” appears again later to recount Jesus’ Ascension and heavenly enthronement. The Book of Acts says, “God exulted/lifted up [Jesus] to his right hand as leader and savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” “Jesus, exulted/lifted up to God’s right hand, received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth….” This is what I want to highlight: how the first lifting up of Jesus leads to the second; his exultation on the Cross leads to his exultation in heaven.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, endured our human suffering and death, even death on a cross. And because of this, God greatly exalted him, and bestowed on him a heavenly glory above any other glory. The early Christians fully believed in Jesus’ death by crucifixion, but they did not depict Jesus on the Cross in sacred art for several centuries. This was partly due to persecution but also because crucifixion still remained so scandalous, horrific, and shameful in their culture. This Sunday, we celebrate the Exultation of the Holy Cross and I want you to behold Christ crucified. Too many are turned away from him—the God who suffered, died, and rose for them—and we see where their dark paths lead. But the message I feel moved to preach to you who have kept your eyes on Jesus and walked with him for years is to understand that our crosses lead to glory.

Each of us is going to suffer in this world and—unless Jesus Christ comes back first—each of us will taste death. But just because you suffer greatly does not necessarily mean you are being punished for doing something wrong like the Hebrews in the desert were. And suffering does not mean that you are not loved by God. (Jesus Christ was perfectly good yet God’s Beloved Son was murdered.) And when you suffer, no matter how incomprehensible or unjust the pain, realize where you are: on your Cross with Jesus Christ. Whatever you endure with him advances his mission of salvation in this world and increases your heavenly glory, for it conforms you to himself. St. Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.” Whatever may happen, let nothing deprive you of your Christian peace or purpose and never forget the incredible love that our God has for you and everyone.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Redemptive Suffering, Salvation History, Sunday Homilies, Typology | Leave a Comment »

Unconditional Alliance

September 7, 2025

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

At the Last Supper, when Jesus told his disciples “one of you will betray me,” all of them replied “Surely, it is not I, Lord,” except for Judas. Judas answered, “Surely it is not I, rabbi (or teacher).” Jesus Christ must be more than merely our teacher. He insists on being our supremely-loved Lord. He told the crowds following him: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Does Jesus really want us to be hating our loved ones? It would be strange for him to command that we love our enemies yet hate our families. Parallel Gospel passages prove Jesus is actually forbidding us from preferring anyone or anything to him, even our loved ones or our own lives. He must be our number one.

The Lord is like the conquering king in today’s parable; the King of kings and Lord of lords who has a rightful claim on everything. He made everything, sustains everything, and without him nothing finds true fulfillment, for he is Goodness itself. He marches toward our petty kingdoms with vastly greater forces. Can anyone successfully oppose him? No, only to our own destruction. So while his hosts of angels for the Day of Judgment are still far away, we should seek his peace terms, welcoming his offered covenant. The Lord seeks our unconditional surrender. He says “anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” We must place everything we have and everything we are at his disposal. But his goal is not to destroy us like enemies or to dominate us like slaves but to have us as his siblings and friends. He says, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Ask yourself and seriously consider, “What am I holding back from him, keeping me from greater faithful love and fruitfulness?”

Entering into Christ’s covenant is only the beginning. A tower (like the one in Jesus’ parable) is not finished by merely laying the foundation. Towers in Old Testament times symbolized security. They allowed you to see your enemies approaching and then to hole up behind high, thick walls safe and secure in an easily defended position. However, a half-finished tower was of little use, except as an object of mockery as onlookers remarked: “This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish!” Some Christian disciples begin following Jesus, laying a foundation, but then abandon the project, like the people mentioned in John 6:66. They say, “This saying is hard; who can accept it” and no longer accompany him, going off to do their own thing. After many of Jesus’ disciples left him after the Bread of Life Discourse at Capernaum, he asked his apostles, “Do you also want to leave?” And Peter answered, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

We must build brick-by-brick, floor-by-floor, day-by-day, even amidst construction setbacks, until our tower of faithfulness is finished at the end of our lives. But we must not labor all by ourselves, like the builders of the Tower of Babel did, failing to reach heaven. Of ourselves, we do not have enough resources to reach completion. We must receive the Lord’s support. As Psalm 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain do the workmen labor.” Our prayer should be that from Psalm 90 today: “May the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!” This is your part: let the Lord Jesus Christ be your true Lord, and do not be too proud to call upon our Savior’s constant help.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Jesus Christ, Parables, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

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