Free Mustard Seeds

On this feast of Christ the King we remember Jesus said, "the Kingdom of God is among you" (Lk 17:21)  As we Unleash the Gospel in POWER it's key to grow in docility to the Holy Spirit...to trust the nudge!

As we consider the impact of the Unleash the Gospel Movement on our parish, we dream big!  We long for, and pursue ,a life as disciples & a parish that looks more like what we see in the Gospels & Acts of the Apostles than what we've experienced so far...

We enter into the powerful encounter between an understanding scribe & Jesus, which led to Jesus telling the scribe, "you are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mk 12:34)  As disciples who have been transferred to the kingdom of the Beloved Son (Col 1:13), the Church of Detroit is hungry to embrace the New Evangelization, and to unleash the gospel like never before...

In chapter 10 of the Gospel of Mark, we hear of the encounter between Jesus and a rich man who asked Jesus, "what must I do to inherit eternal life."  Mark tells us that Jesus looked at the man with love (V21).  Jesus gazes on each of us with perfect love, fixing our eyes on Him and daily renewing our "yes" sets us free.

At a Generations of Faith Sunday at Corpus Christi in Detroit, with "The Call to Holiness" being the theme, we reflect on letting God's love flow through us...

In Chapter 7 of Mark's Gospel, we read of the wonderful healing of the man who was deaf and mute.  In this reflection, we consider how the Lord heals us in His perfect love, and how we can share His healing love with others.

In chapter 7 of the gospel of Mark, we hear Jesus criticize some of the Pharisees & Scribes with words first delivered through the prophet Isaiah, "this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, in vain do they worship me."  This reflection looks at the intimate and transformational power of the worship of God that Jesus speaks of in John 4:23 "The hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship Him."

Bishop Fulton Sheen once said, "the greatest love story of all time is contained in a little white host."  This reflection takes a close look at the famous "bread of life" discourse of Jesus in the Synagogue in Capernaum.  We're meant to live in this love story, to be renewed in it day in and day out, and most spectacularly, by the Eucharist.  No matter what is happening in our lives, world and even Church...through the Eucharist Jesus continues to strengthen us to share the very conviction of St. Peter who said to Jesus in the midst of great turmoil, "to whom shall we go...you have the words of of eternal life."

Many a time we've heard the famous passage from Psalm 34:9 "taste and see the goodness of the Lord."  Powerful words indeed...inviting us to LIVE for God's glory, imbued with God's presence.

A visit to His hometown synagogue in Nazareth left Jesus amazed at the lack of faith among the people.  His desire for us, is that our faith would be what keeps us in contact with His presence enabling us live with substance.

Beginning a new assignment at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Detroit, Fr. Patrick shares his personal testimony and invites the listeners into the experience of tasting the saving love of Jesus anew in their lives by taking the time to record their own personal testimonies...

Baptism plunges us into God, filling us with God's Holy Spirit and making us, as St. Peter describes "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)  In this verse we can see a biblical root for the teaching that we are baptized "priest, prophet & king".  This reflection touches on the priestly and kingly dimensions of Christian life, and then focuses on the prophetic dimension of the Christian life. 

After Original Sin, Adam went from divine intimacy with God to hiding from God; afraid of His voice and filled with fear, tension, shame and division.  The price paid for our healing was the cross, the debt we owe is love...

At the last supper, Jesus gave the Church the gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood.  We take a look at how the Eucharist really becomes the body and blood of Jesus today, why He continues to give us this gift, and what happens in us as a result of this gift.   

Our understanding of who God is, what God is like and how God sees us has a profound impact on the way we live.

On Ascension Sunday, we look at the big picture of the Ascension, how shortly thereafter the Holy Spirit would flow forth in the New Covenant at Pentecost.  We look at the flow of God's love in the design of Motherhood.  We consider the hour at hand in the days leading up to Pentecost and God's invitation to more...

The love of Jesus sets us FREE.  Filled with His love, our souls become furnaces of divinely powerful love that flows through us and out to others.  Free in His love, we have His peace & power to set the captives free. 

At St. Ignatius Catholic Church on the final day of a signs & wonders filled ministry trip to the Cayman Islands with Patrick Reis of Encounter Ministries in partnership with Pastor Felix Manzanares of Journey Ministries, testimony is given of the wonders God worked throughout the week, including the miraculous growth of Naomi's leg, who shares her testimony.  Jesus is the Vine & we are the branches, truly able to do the works He did, and "even greater works than these" said Jesus. (Jn 14:12)  To BELIEVE that is FAITH, the first step to unleashing the mighty power of the gospel! To see amazing footage of Naomi's Miracle, visit:  https://youtu.be/1Akl124_Qbs

On Good Shepherd Sunday, and World Day of Prayer for Vocations, we consider the vocation, the call, the God has given all of us:  to live as disciples of Jesus, sons & daughters of God, in a life of divine love that leads us to live in holiness.  When we fully embrace our primary vocation, we are ready to embrace our secondary vocation:  the stable plan/state of life & special path God will lead us down as we live the life of discipleship he's called us to.

At a holy hour with young adults, a brief reflection on Jesus, the Good Shepherd who loves to roll away the stone...