Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

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Msgr. Don discusses the shadow of religion and what God really wants from us for his love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Msgr. Don talks about why it is important to start listening and trusting the voice that sits deep inside of you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Msgr. Don reflects on how our willingness to be completely open to God is when he is able to help us most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Gospel Luke 20:27-40 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything. Reflection The Sadducees who did not believe in life after death, are pretty literal in their misunderstandings of what it means to die. When you die, and this is before the final coming of Jesus, you're in a place where it's not like the earth. People are not marrying and not marrying in those places, but they are rather in a place where they have a powerful impact on us. They're like angels. Angels are messengers. So we have in this story a beautiful image of praying to those who have died for their help, for their wisdom, their understanding. It's a very deep mystery, but a beautiful way of understanding what happens to us after we die, before God's kingdom is established. Closing Prayer Father, you are constantly reminding us of your generosity. Your longing that we be saved and be with you. You fill us with an understanding of compassion and forgiveness. Help us to feel that presence, knowing that we've been given a promise of a place where we will be able to wait for the final kingdom and be in touch with one another. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 19:45-48 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words. Reflection It's not hard to believe in any system that engages someone in something that is meaningful and purposeful can be turned through corruption into something very different. Instead of the temple being a place where you could encounter God, it was clear that it turned out to be a place that was making money for those who were running the temple. It's a reminder of how often that we see in religion, those who run a religion get caught up in money and power, and it ruins the heart of what a religion is about. Creating a place of intimacy with God through ritual and through teachings. That's the work of the church. Not to take power, not to serve the needs of those who are in charge. Closing Prayer Father, for all of us who are ministers of your word, bless us with an understanding of what we're here to accomplish. Not to control behavior. Not to tell people what they have to do, but rather to invite them into a relationship with God that is transformative. That brings life, hope, and fullness. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Reflection Compassion is at the heart of everything you teach. You long for us to be lifted out of a place of darkness and fear. Help us to feel this ministry that comes so clearly from you, but not always coming from the religion that we may be engaged in. The shadow of religion is its condemnation of sin. When in truth, the real religion that we're called to is one of understanding and compassion. Closing Prayer Father, awaken us to who you are, so that when we understand more fully about your presence dwelling within us, we will recognize you when we feel things differently. Not quick to judge, but more importantly, quick to love. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 19:11-28 While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. Reflection This parable holds a truth about the Kingdom of God. So many of the followers of Jesus, as they were working toward Jerusalem, thinking that this would be the day that Jesus would take over and run the world. And they didn't understand what was going to be asked of them. And when they were asked to die to themselves and to surrender themselves to God, it would be easy for them to be caught up in fear, which is what this story is about. A man asked to do something, but out of fear of making a mistake, he won't do it. The Kingdom of God cannot be that way. We have to take risks. We have to imagine letting go of everything in order to find the fullness of truth. That's at the heart of this story. Fear is a very dangerous thing to be caught up in if you want to live in the Kingdom of God. Closing Prayer Father, the greatest risk that we can take with you is a misunderstanding the promise you make. For anyone who gives up what seems to be their life, they'll find something a hundred times more effective, a hundred times more life giving. Keep us in this position of always trusting in whatever you ask us to let go of is always something that robs us of life. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday, 11-19–24 PRI Reflections on Scripture | Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time === Gospel Luke 19:1-10 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Reflection What's interesting about this story, is how did Jesus know who Zacchaeus was? He's just a man in a tree. But we know from the Psalms that Jesus is the one who reads hearts, he knows where we are, he knows who we are. And he recognized in Zacchaeus someone who was different, someone who was ready and willing to make up for any sin he committed. And he wanted to be with Zacchaeus. And he said, I want to eat dinner at your house. I love that image of intimacy at a dinner. He longs to awaken people, but at the same time, he knows those that are ready to be awakened. Closing Prayer Father, we all judge one another. And what you've taught us so often is to look more deeply into who these people are, and to ask for wisdom to know them, to see them, to know the goodness is in each of them. That's one of the great blessings that God has given to us. A heart like the heart of Jesus that longs to reach everyone where they are and draw them into the kingdom. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. Reflection One of the most common miracles that Jesus performed was giving sight to those who longed to see. It's such a perfect image of what we are supposed to be in our relationship with God, someone constantly inviting us to see more of what the mystery we’re called to live is all about. And the beauty of this passage is that the young man who is blind, he knows who Jesus is. He calls him by the name of the Messiah, the Son of David. And so he knew something about the sacredness of this figure and simply asked him the most simple question. Please let me see. It's a beautiful prayer for all of us. Closing Prayer Father, it’s so clear that you long to open our eyes, our hearts, our minds, to the truth that we're asked to live a life in service to one another, filled with your divinity, filled with your wisdom. Continue to bless us with a longing and also an expectation that our longing will always be answered when we ask to see you more clearly and know who we are. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Gospel Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Reflection It's easy for us at times to imagine that God is not as interested in where we are and what we need. Sometimes we imply that he's like the judge in the story that has to be pestered and bothered in order to get something from him. But nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing is more important that we believe that our God is the God who is immediately ready to respond to anything that we need. We need to trust in his willingness to be the God he's promised to be. Closing Prayer Father, help us when we doubt. When we feel distant from God. Or we feel that God is not listening. Give us the confidence to know that beyond our imagining, he’s engaged in everything that we do, and longs for us to receive the grace that we need to become the people he calls us to be. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 17:26-37 Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.” Reflection It's clear that the coming of the kingdom of God is mysterious. But one thing is certain it is coming. And there are signs that it is coming. And there are ways in which people are called to respond to it coming. And the frightening thing is, so many are not paying attention. So many are not understanding. In this stands as a stark awareness of how easy it is to lose consciousness of what is truly the Kingdom of God. Closing Prayer Father, over and over again, you remind us of how important it is to pay attention to what is around us. To signs and wonders. And you long for us to be engaged in this work of being saved and being brought into fullness. Keep us alert. Keep us attentive, keep us filled with hope. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.” Reflection It's so important for us to understand what the kingdom of God is. It is not something that is not present now and will someday be present. It is now. It is happening. It is in our midst. It is God's presence within you, drawing us closer and closer to the fullness of salvation. Closing Prayer Father, awaken us to the truth of the Kingdom of God. It is where you are. It is when you are believed in. It is when we see the world through your eyes. When we know what it is that we're called to live and we are living it. Bless us with an awareness that the kingdom is now. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gospel Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said 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 said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Reflection The Samaritans play an important role in the scriptures. The thing that is unique about them is that they did not believe in the temple, yet they truly believed in the Torah. They were free of the institution, and we see them in interesting roles. The Good Samaritan, the one who takes care of someone, the woman at the well was a Samaritan. And in this passage, we see the Samaritan being the only one who comes back and thanks Jesus for the healing. Closing Prayer Father, help us to see the role of religion as an institution, and the role of religion as a way of entering into the presence of God, experiencing him within us and living through us, doing his work through us. Keep us in touch with the heart of what it is that Jesus taught, so we will not lose our way in an institution that seeks to control our behavior. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices