Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 7, 2025

In college, for me and the people I associated with, drinking was a big part of socializing. 

Friday and/or Saturday was when we would go out all night, and, if we went out on a Saturday, I was sick in bed that Sunday.


I lived at home most of my college years, so, on those Sundays, my mom would knock on my door and ask if I was going to Mass. I’d say, “No. I’m not feeling well.” And, I remember her asking me: “What’s more important: God or drinking?”


I still didn’t get up but it was a good question that pointed out a big problem: Whether I wanted to admit it or not, drinking was more important to me than God because it was keeping me from following Jesus the way Jesus calls us to.


For example, I was definitely ignoring Jesus’ command given at the Last Supper, when He took bread and said, “This is my Body,” and took the cup and said, “This is my Blood.” And, then, He commanded: “Do this in memory of me.” But I was choosing drinking instead.


…In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us against living life that way. He said: “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.”


We know Jesus doesn’t mean we must literally hate our family. He was using a Hebrew expression where “to hate” meant to love less. In other words, Jesus is telling us that we must love Him above all else, that, unless He is our first priority, we cannot truly call ourselves His followers.

…And, the fact is, when God is first in our life, we don’t love others less; we love them more. We don’t care less about school, or sports, or our career; we care better, because our priorities are straight.


That’s why one of the very first things Pope Saint John Paul II said when he became pope was: “Do not be afraid to welcome Christ…Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ…Do not be afraid. Christ knows what is in man. He alone knows it.”


…Pope Saint John Paul II knew that, after having lived through Nazi occupation, World War II, communist Poland, and all the evils of that time; he knew from experience that we must give God first place, and that we lose nothing by doing so.


…God first. And, when God is first, we can truly call ourselves His disciples and receive the blessings He longs to give us.




Scripture readings for this day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm

Popular posts from this blog

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sunday, September 14, 2025

My grandfather passed away when I was in the fifth grade. Now, I share this with the utmost respect for my grandfather, but we didn't have a great relationship: I remember sometimes feeling like I was an annoyance to him. I also don't remember our relationship being warm or affectionate. That's just how it was, although I did love him and I know he loved me. That said, when he died, I felt really inspired to pray for his soul. Every night, right before falling asleep, I decided to offer some Hail Mary’s, Our Fathers, and Glory Be’s for him. And, after offering these prayers each night for well over a year, I remember having a very vivid dream. And, in this dream, my grandfather and I were in what looked to be a large country club dining room, and, there, he hugs me and is crying so hard. And, through his tears, he repeats: “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I woke up and understood he was thanking me for the prayers and sacrifice I offered to God for him.  …That experi...
Read more

Christmas, December 25, 2025

Soon after becoming a priest in 2016, I got a phone call from my brother. He had a friend named Matt, a prayerful man, who wanted to reach out. Matt claimed to receive messages from Jesus, and he said Jesus had something to say to me. The message was basically this: “Jesus wants me to spread the message of His mercy all the time, nonstop.” …So, I tell my family about this phone call, and we’re kind of laughing about it; not in a disrespectful way, but in an excited, curious way. So, my sister Anna says, “Sam, ask Matt if Jesus has anything to say about me.” So I did. A couple days pass, and Matt asks for my sister’s email. About an hour later, I get a text from Anna saying, “I’m teaching right now, and I’m gonna cry.” So, I asked her to send the email. I read it, and it was really nice but nothing dramatic. I said, “Why are you gonna cry?” She said, “Sam, last night I was praying, and I asked God about three different things. And, in this email, Jesus responds to each of them.”...
Read more

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, Sunday, June 29, 2025

I was listening to someone ask a bishop why the Catholic Church teaches that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, like Baptism and Holy Communion. In other words, “How can the Catholic Church be so exclusive in its teachings; isn't that narrow-minded?”   …As a side-note, I will add that the Church does teach that God can save people who are not Baptized or who have not received Holy Communion, but it is through the Catholic Church that the grace of being saved comes; Jesus saves the world through His Church, which is His Body, because the body, the Church, is never separated from the head, Jesus. But, back to my story: So, this question is asked of this bishop about why the Church teaches that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and, without skipping a beat, the bishop began to quote Jesus’ very words about Baptism,  saying, quote “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Then the bishop quoted Jesus’ words on the Eucharist...
Read more