Daily Reflections

If you would like to receive these daily reflections (written by various parishioners) in your email box each day, contact [email protected]

June 9, 2025 - Growing Up
In the latter part of Luke 2, twelve-year-old Jesus visits the temple. His parents find him three days later and we read that Jesus was sitting amongst the teachers, answering and asking questions. It is a moment where we recognize that not only is Jesus coming of age, but that he is full of wisdom and knowledge.
Last month my daughter finished the 8^th grade and we are officially done with the elementary and middle school years! I am very excited about this transition—our K-8 experience was a good one, but I am ready for the next phase of our lives. I love having young adults in my home and the challenges that come with having high school aged kids. As we transition into new schools and a new era of parenting, I am reminded of Jesus’ visit to the temple in Luke’s gospel.  My girls are just a little older than Jesus was at that time. While they still feel like children, my girls are young women, ready for what awaits them.  I pray that like Jesus in the temple, they too will grow “in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”
Erin Gallawa
 
June 10, 2025 - Trust
At the swim meet last weekend, I watched as adults helped young children get out of the pool at the end of their races. The pools have huge gutters, and it is very difficult to pull yourself up and out of the pool. Race after race, I watched kids raise up their hands and watched as adults confidently grabbed them by both arms to pull them safely out of the water. The first thing that struck me was that they acknowledged they couldn’t do it themselves. It is rare that I am willing to admit I can’t do something. The second thing that gave me thought was the trust that these kids had in adults they did not know; they needed help and accepted it. How often do people offer me help and I refuse to take it?
I know that I cannot do everything, yet I often refuse to admit it. I deny offers of help even though I could use it immensely. God will not look upon me differently for acknowledging that I need help. In fact, God already knows where I need him and sends me the people to be his hands. I pray that like the children trusting in those offering help, that I will reach up and accept the gift of their offering.
Erin Gallawa
 
June 11, 2025 - DQ
Ever since my kids started swim team a decade ago, my job at swim meets has been to be a stroke and turn judge. The job of these judges is to ensure a fair meet by making sure that all swimmers follow the rules. When a swimmer does something illegal or swims a stroke improperly, it is my job to disqualify the swimmer. People always ask me if I feel bad about this job—after all, it doesn’t seem nice to “DQ” a sweet seven-year-old! But the reality is that I am just reinforcing what the coach is teaching them at every practice. Telling a kid that they swam wrong is an important part of them learning to do it correctly.
I think people are intimidated by the thought of sin and reconciliation because they have to face what they have done “wrong.” But I find that admitting my sin is really more like getting a DQ slip. I know what is right and wrong and I know which of my actions are sinful. When I acknowledge them aloud, I acknowledge the mistakes and give myself the opportunity to learn. I do not want to be afraid of knowing my mistakes; it is only in knowing my sin that I can reconcile and move forward.
Erin Gallawa
 
June 12, 2025 - Theater
My girls’ theater company recently did a community theater production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” which was open to all ages. It had been 25 years since I had auditioned to be in a musical, but I set aside my fears and sang my audition song. I was cast in the ensemble.
Being in a show as an adult was a humbling experience. I love to sing, but I have not been responsible for holding a harmony since I graduated from high school. And don’t even get me started on my lack of coordination and grace in dancing. But I showed up every week and learned the show to the best of my ability. By opening day, I mostly knew what I was doing, thanks to a cheat sheet I had written and kept backstage. I don’t remember theater being this hard when I was a teenager!
Doing something like this as an adult was a beautiful experience for me. First, it was something I did for myself and only for myself. And I had so much fun! It was also a faith-filled experience, not only because it is based on the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis, but because it is a faith-based theater company. There was prayer at every rehearsal, before every show, backstage and in text messages. There were reminders that no matter how good (or bad!) we were, it was for God, not for our own glory.  Finally, it was about community. Together, we created something beautiful and built a special relationship that I will carry with me.
Erin Gallawa
 
June 13, 2025 - Joseph Reunion
Last weekend we had a reunion viewing party for the cast of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” We gathered on the back deck under the stars and watched together the show that we had spent 2.5 months putting together. Even though we had all been in the room as the show took shape, watching the final product from the viewpoint of the audience was a different experience. We laughed at physical jokes we had never seen, were awed at how the sets and lights gave life to the stage and were honestly impressed at how well it had come together. We spent months creating a show and one weekend performing, but we had no idea what it looked like until we were gifted the opportunity to watch it together.
In Genesis, we read how God looked at his creation and saw how good it was. As I sat on the deck with all the people who had sang, danced and chortled beside me, I felt lucky that we were given this moment to see what we had created and appreciate its beauty. God created us, knows us and sees us, and I like to imagine that he looks upon us with as much joy as we did that night, reveling in the show that He created.  
Erin Gallawa
 
 
June 14, 2025 - Spain
This summer my husband and I are taking our girls to Spain. When I lived in Spain over 20 years ago, I became dear friends with a woman named Ana and her family. Over the last two decades, we have seen them when we had a chance to return to Europe or when they came here to visit. This will be our girls’ first time visiting Europe and meeting Ana’s entire family!
I have been emotional about this trip since the moment we booked the flights. Taking my girls to the country that I lived in and loved so dearly feels like a homecoming. I hope they will love the Spanish people as much as I do. I hope they will walk into churches that are older than the history of the United States and feel God’s presence in the walls where people have worshipped for centuries. More than anything, I pray that this trip will open their eyes to how beautiful and diverse this world is. I want my children to appreciate all that God has created and to see that there is so much beauty on this earth!
Erin Gallawa
 
June 15, 2025 - Heat
I hate being hot. For all that I love about living in Northern California, every summer I am reminded how much I dislike the heat that comes with living here. I can’t help but wonder what God was thinking when he came up with the idea of summer. Couldn’t he have stopped at 85 degrees?
To adjust my attitude about the heat, this year I am trying to focus on all the benefits of heat and the creatures that thrive in it. First, I love nothing more than jumping into a lake, a pool or a river when it is hot outside. I always want to know the feeling of escaping the heat by submerging myself into a body of water! I love that heat brings people out of their homes to gather for swimming, BBQs or evenings in the park. There are animals that rely on the heat and that love to lounge in the sun. While heat makes me want to move to the Artic, it is also beautiful and part of God’s grand plan. This summer, I pray that I can be grateful for the heat and its part in God’s creation.
Erin Gallawa

Reflections 6-2-25
June 2, 2025 - Olive Trees
When I lived in San Jose, our parish held an annual men’s retreat at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos. It was always a meaningful time of prayer, reflection, and listening to the powerful testimonies shared by other men in the parish.
One of my favorite places to spend time there was the Olive Tree Orchard. Nestled among the many olive trees stood a statue of Jesus praying, with a plaque that read, “Agony in the Garden.” As I sat in reflection, I began to study the trees. Each trunk stood apart, yet their branches intertwined overhead, forming a beautiful, unified canopy.
That image struck me deeply. It reminded me that while each man on the retreat was an individual, the prayers we offered—both privately and together—were intertwined like those branches, rising to God as one.
It’s the same when we gather for Mass: our prayers come from many hearts, but they become one voice lifted in worship. And I believe that collective voice is especially pleasing to God.  
Kurt Peterson
 
June  3, 2025   – A Special Kind of Love
Unconditional love often feels just out of reach, something we talk about more than we truly live. In a world where love is tied to performance and approval, it’s easy to wonder if unconditional love really exists. Then along came Izzy, our dog.
Izzy doesn’t care what kind of day I’ve had. She doesn’t wait for me to say the right thing or be in the right mood. When I walk through the door, she’s already ecstatic—her joy isn’t measured, her affection isn’t withheld. She simply loves. She snuggles close at night, always wants to be near, and somehow, she loves the bad mood right out of us.
Through Izzy, I began to see what unconditional love really looks like. It’s not complicated or strategic. It’s simple presence. Loyalty. Joy in another’s existence—no strings attached. No wonder dogs are trained to help those who suffer. Their love reaches into hidden, hurtful places words can’t touch. They don’t ask us to change. They don’t withhold love until we get it right. They show up, tail wagging, heart open.
Izzy teaches me daily what it means to love like God loves: constant, joyful, undeserved, and freely given.  
Kurt Peterson
 
June 4, 2025 – Beach
I’m writing this from the balcony of our room at the Torres Mazatlán Resort. Don’t you feel sorry for me? Below, the beach stretches beyond the beautiful grounds. But, I have  a love-hate relationship with the ocean. I love the gentle sound of the surf, the crashing waves, and the salty scent of the sea air. The deep blue water against the bright sand is breathtaking—a reminder that God is the Master Painter.
But I hate sand.
No matter what I’m doing, playing in the waves or enjoying a meal—it gets everywhere. It finds every nook and cranny and takes forever to get out.
This reminds me of the pleasures in life. They can be beautiful and life-giving, like the beach. But when I let them control me—when they become more than they should—they’re like the sand: invasive, hard to shake off, and clinging to every part of me.
Jesus may every joy and blessing be used for Your glory, not mine. Keep me grounded in you and help me not to be ruled by gifts meant to be enjoyed, not worshiped.                                                                       Kurt Peterson
 
June 5, 2025 – Pure
Every year we are blessed to walk with a remarkable group of individuals through the OCIA process—formerly known as RCIA. It’s a journey of growth, faith, and transformation. Throughout this process, we witness profound moments that reveal the beauty of God's grace at work. One unforgettable moment occurred during the Baptism of one of our catechumens. As she came up from the water, her face beamed with a joy that stayed with her the entire evening. When we reflected on the experience at our next session, she shared, “I felt pure.”
She couldn’t have said it better. In that moment, her old self had died, and she rose as a new creation in Christ. Through Baptism, we are washed clean, renewed, and united with Jesus in His death and resurrection. Of course, we are not perfect. We will stumble and fall into sin. But in His mercy, God provides us with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where we are restored and made pure once again.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for inspiring the Church to bring forth the sacraments—encounters with God’s love that strengthen and sustain us throughout our lives.
Please continue to pray for our Catechumens and candidates as they grow in faith. Their journey is a reminder to us all of the grace available through the sacraments and the ever-present invitation to be made new in Christ.                                                                                                
Kurt Peterson
 
June 6, 2025 – Changes
Last month brought many significant changes. We mourned the passing of Pope Francis and then witnessed the white smoke rising from the Vatican as Pope Leo XIV was elected. Here at SS Peter and Paul, we also said goodbye to familiar faces—Deacon David, Todd Benjamin, and Sarah Peterson all retired, leaving a lasting legacy. We are now in the process of searching for a new Liturgy Coordinator and Music Coordinator.
It may feel like everything is happening at once, but that’s not quite the case. As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “Change is the only constant in life.” That rings especially true here.
Over our 47 years of marriage, we've adapted through many seasons. We raised children, then transitioned to being caregivers. We've reshaped our relationships as our children grew and started families of their own. We’ve grieved the loss of loved ones—Sarah’s mom and my parents—and learned to navigate life without them. And now, with Sarah's retirement, we’re once again adjusting to a new chapter.
But Heraclitus missed one constant: God.
Yes, life is filled with change, but God remains steadfast. While everything else shifts, He is our rock—the same yesterday, today, and forever.                                                                              
Kurt Peterson
 
June 7, 2025 – Footprints
A couple of weeks ago, Sarah and I were walking along the beach in Mexico. As our feet sank into the sand, we saw the impressions we left behind. It reminded me of the poem “Footprints.”
The poem tells of someone dreaming they walked with the Lord along a beach. Scenes from their life flashed across the sky, and in each, there were footprints—sometimes two sets, sometimes one. In the hardest moments, only one set appeared. When asked why God wasn’t there then, He said, “Those were the times I carried you.”
I remember the first time I read that poem and how it touched me. How often have I failed to notice God’s presence during my pain or struggle? Was I too caught up in my suffering to see that He was carrying me?
Now, as I grow older, I realize the Lord has always been with me—even when I didn’t recognize it. Thank you, God, for never abandoning me.                                                                                        
Kurt Peterson

June 8, 2025  – Our Amazing World
Spending a week on the beach, I watched the ocean waves continually renew the shore. Like a natural shuttle, the waves swept over sand and small creatures, burying them as they receded. The waves also create sand by eroding rocks, wood, and shells—churning and polishing them before depositing them back on the shore. This cycle shows how God created a world that sustains and heals itself.
God made us stewards of His creation. A steward is someone who manages another’s property. Earth belongs to God, and He has given us the responsibility to care for it. In Genesis 1:28, God commands us to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” In Genesis 2:15, He instructs us to “cultivate and take care of it.” These verses remind us that we are to use the earth’s resources wisely while also protecting and nurturing it.
If we respect this balance and don’t interfere with the natural order, the earth will continue to flourish. Stewardship means honoring God’s creation by caring for it as He intended.                  
Kurt Peterson

May 26, 2025 –  It’s Time
As you may have noticed I recently decided to retire from most of the ministries I’ve been a part of as a deacon.  I was ordained to Holy Orders at age 40 in the San Bernardino, Riverside Diocese in Southern California.  I don’t think that at that age I ever thought about the idea of retirement.  Ah, youth!   I have expended many years and much energy in both parish and diocesan activities and duties in both Southern and Northern California.  I’ve learned along the way the importance of praying much and listening for direction.  It has not always been easy but always ultimately fulfilling when I pause to remember that God is the one directing me.  I can’t deny that He is continually reminding me that my energy level has diminished. And just like when that happened when I retired from my secular job that I loved in order to let younger and more energetic folks step up, so it is now as a deacon:  it’s time.
Deacon David
 
 May 27, 2025 – Letting Go
I’ve had quite a few years to reflect on life which I’m doing more and more of lately.   One of the things I think about is “letting go”.  You and I  probably share some of these things but just bear with me as I ponder them.  When I was 21, I married the love of my life, but creating our own lives meant assuming adult responsibility and letting go of dependence on my parents. Having children and raising them eventually meant letting them go their own ways.  All of this brought my newfound religious belief into daily play.  Not only did I grow in human love but felt the love of God infusing my life.  Such also has been my journey with our church from “convert”  to active parishioner to ordained ministry.  And just as in secular life, so it goes in Church life:   awakening, service and then realizing that it is time to let go. And I’m looking forward to God’s retirement plan for me.
Deacon David
 
May 28, 2025 – Time Catches Up
One of the times in my life when I had all the answers to any question  was after we returned from our three years in Kenya  to all of the promises and faults of a first world country.   I had the experience of living in a third world country and had a clear vision of how things could and should change for the better, both here and there.    But time continues to give me new perspectives on how the world can turn without my help.  Jane wrote a couple of weeks ago about perspectives and of negative space.  I have to accept that, for me, time fits into the category of negative space and I am called to look at time from each new perspective given to me.  For example my faith journey began with the ignorance of my youth through being awakened to the reality of God and the gift of faith.  That faith grew into the actions of sharing and service.  It all took time and the help and love of many people.   Thanks be to God for having given me the time to see His will through those various perspectives given to me.
Deacon David
 
 May 29, 2025 – Seasons
This time of year, springtime, is one of my favorite seasons of the year.  Oh, it has its downside as allergies abound, but I revel in the promise of longer days  as I look forward to sunrise around 6 a.m. and sunset around 8 p.m.  Summer and fall also provide warmth and some long days but they are followed by winter with cold, short, dark days and S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) so the expectation is different.   As I contemplate the gifts and challenges God has given me, I reflect on my own seasons of dark and bright, cold and warm, open and closed.  I’ve had the constant presence of God through fallow seasons, birth and growth, harvest and now retirement.  Reflecting on those times reminds me that God has been the constant through every season of my life, guiding me even when I was ignorant of His presence.  
I am thankful and praise Him for all of the seasons of my life.
Deacon David
                                                                             
May 30, 2025 – Is It Bedtime?
There is a saying that Jane and I attribute to one of our grandfathers.  It involves having company in the evening and him turning to his spouse and saying out loud, “Honey, it’s time for us to go to bed and let these good folks go home.”  We enjoy the company of friends, but I’ve found myself ruminating on grandpa’s words when the clock says 10:30 p.m.  Then I think about Jesus spending his last night with friends and inviting them to go away to pray with him.  And his friends were unable to stay awake.  While I stay awake with my friends, I admit that it is difficult much of the time for me to say awake and spend time in prayer with our Lord.
Lord, teach me how to pray and stay awake.
Deacon David
  
May 31, 2025 – Saying “Goodbye”
One of the great honors I’ve had as a deacon has been to be the officiant at the time a person is laid to rest.  It is never easy to find the words which will not only console those who grieve the loss of a loved one, but also to remind them of the hope we proclaim in the resurrection.   Those who grieve often help to direct me before the ceremony when they tell me how the deceased are called and how they’ve spent their lives:  jobs, education, family, etc.  It is when I reflect those remembrances back to them that there are smiles through the tears and often sighs of relief.  What a privilege it is to remind them then that in saying goodbye to those we love here, they will be hearing Jesus say hello!
This causes me to reflect on where I am in my own life, continuing as best I can to serve the Lord, making amends to those I’ve offended and saying I love you to all who are near and dear to me.
Deacon David
 
June 1, 2025 – I Still Have Time
People have asked what I will do now that I’m “retired”.  Being retired from diaconal  privileges and responsibilities doesn’t mean I can’t continue in various ministries.  Jane and I will continue in O.C.I.A., the Belonging ministry, lectoring and serving as Eucharistic ministers.  And I will be available for filling in occasionally where needed.  We love this parish and want to remain involved as long as we are physically able and the DMV continues to renew our California driver’s licenses!  I also continue to pray that eligible men will take an interest in the diaconate and that one day women will again be welcomed into the diaconate.
Deacon David

May 19, 2025- Milestone Birthdays
Today my adoptive mom turns 90.  In almost six weeks, my birthmother will also turn 90.  It is truly a blessing that I still have both women in my life.   Celebrating these milestone birthdays is a pleasure.  At times like this, I am thankful to God for all those who are fortunate to live long lives, because I recognize that this isn’t always the case.  I think of the lives they have touched along the way and the experiences of seeing the world change in so many ways during their lifetimes.   I also appreciate the wisdom that our elders can share with us.
Loving God, thank you for parents and others who have been models of love and enriched our lives, whether they are still with us or have gone on to their heavenly reward.  
Darcy Wharton
 
May 20, 2025- A Time Set Apart
Each year, several women of the parish attend an overnight women’s retreat.  I began facilitating these yearly retreats over 15 years ago and we now fill Mercy Center Auburn to capacity with 40 women attending.  It is always heartwarming to see so many women gather with a desire to grow closer to God.  We are all nurtured by one another and nourished with great meals and a beautiful space.  God’s presence is palpable!
In times of stress, it is wonderful to find places where we can relax and feel the love of God in community.   Please pray for the 40 of us who today and tomorrow will be reflecting on our images of God.
We can’t all attend retreats, so where will you find refreshment for your soul today?
Darcy Wharton
 
May 21, 2025- Rest the Pond
What do you do when things get stirred up in your life?  I’m the type of person who likes to quickly solve problems. Someone recently shared this story with me and I love its wisdom. Imagine if you were trying to fish and the pond was stirred up.  The pond water can get murky when it’s been disturbed, and one can’t see anything!  However, if you give it some time, you can let the debris settle to the bottom of the pond and then you can clearly see the fish.  
Loving God, in times of uncertainty and confusion, allow your Spirit to fill me so that I can take a deep breath and let things settle.  Then, with your guidance, I can clearly see my path forward.
Darcy Wharton
 
May 22, 2025- Habemus Papam!
Where were you two weeks ago when it was announced that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was our new pope, taking the name of Pope Leo XIV?  It was a blessed experience for me. As soon as the white smoke appeared, my coworkers grabbed chairs and we gathered in my office.  (Coincidentally, we did this exact thing 13 years ago when Pope Francis was elected.  I was hoping we could do it again and we did!)  We were filled with joy and anticipation as we anxiously awaited the announcement.  Finally the red curtain parted and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti emerged to announce the name of our new pope.  
 I was immediately struck by our new pope’s smile and he clearly was holding back tears.  As he looked out over the throngs of people, can you imagine what he must have been thinking?
Let us pray that we will follow the words spoken by Pope Leo XIV moments after his election,
 “Together, we must look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love.”
Darcy Wharton
 
May 23, 2025- Three Things
Many parishioners commented that they particularly enjoyed the Lenten reflection book this past Lent. I heard comments like, “it was direct, simple, and applicable to their lives”.   One particular reflection that I enjoyed was about three things to remember when thinking of the certainty that someday our lives will end.  The first is to Let Go, the second is to Show Love, and the third is to Celebrate Life.
It made me wonder.  In my remaining years on this earth can I continue to learn the value of letting go of things-past hurts, physical items, and therefore simplify my life?  Can I find new ways to show love to everyone around me?  Can I take the time to celebrate all that life has to offer?
Loving God, help me, with your grace, to focus on these three things.
Darcy Wharton
 
May 24, 2025- When Do You Pray?
As you might imagine, the topic of prayer comes up a lot throughout my day.  Some people share that they have a particular time during the day for dedicated prayer.  Others sprinkle conversational prayer throughout their day.  I have been asked what prayer style is best.  
Rather than answer that directly, perhaps the bigger issue is whether a person’s prayer style or habits nourish a deepening relationship with God.  It may not be a matter of how many words are being spoken, how often someone prays, or in what style, but are we able to confidently believe that we are in communication with God who is actively working in our lives?
I have found that the best type of prayer is the one that works!  In those times when I feel that prayer has gone a bit “stale”, I assume it’s a nudge from God to switch it up a bit.  One thing I’m convinced of, though, is that God is always present, patiently waiting for connection.
Darcy Wharton
 
May 25, 2025- Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
In John’s gospel we hear Jesus tell his disciples that he will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who will teach them everything and remind them of everything he had told them.   He also extends peace to them and tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”.  
As followers of Jesus, I assume this is true for us as well.  However, it can be so easy to let the worries of the world trouble our hearts.   Are my loved ones okay?  What is happening with our economy?  What might the doctor say after those medical tests?   But Jesus implies that if we allow the Spirit to work in our lives, we will be filled with peace.  Do we really believe this?
Lord, in those times when worry overtakes us, help us trust that your Spirit is within us.  Let us feel your peace!
Darcy Wharton

May 12, 2025 – Moving and Changing
 
After the miscarriage of our first pregnancy, we planted a memorial rose bush in our backyard.  It always showed the most beautiful white roses, until recently when I looked outside and saw that the roses which had bloomed this spring were a deep red color.  I honestly didn’t know that roses could change color, especially after 14 years of white blooms, but whatever the reason: temperature, age, cross-pollination, genetic mutation…the fact remains that it changed.  And despite the change, the roses will continue to remind us of the presence of God’s love and comfort in times of pain and loss.  
 
I have mixed feelings as I await the start of the conclave and the election of our new pope: grief, sadness, anxious excitement and hope.  And yet, it is the beauty of our Church’s process of mourning and grieving while transitioning to the conclave that keeps us moving as a faith community in the midst of change.  During our parish retreat his year, Fr. Brendan McGuire said that during times of grief, we can find ourselves in a dark room, but we should take care not to pull up a chair in that dark room and have a seat.  It’s the paradox of grief that at the same time we don’t want things to move along or change, we also need to keep moving. 
-Katie Maynard
 
May 13, 2025 – Preparations
 
As I was walking around the church during holy week with my own checklist of preparations for Triduum and the OCIA, I came across a beautiful sight.  Two amazing volunteers from our parish were busy at work trimming the hedges around the statue of Mary in front of the church.  As I passed by, they exclaimed, “We’re getting Mary ready and making everything pretty!” 
 
I was struck by the simple act of clipping and trimming around the statue of our blessed Mother and the significance of the threshold of Triduum upon which we all stood.  It felt like a beautiful confluence of Lenten preparation and anticipation of an encounter of the paschal mystery: the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord.  We clip and snip and get things ready so that we can be moved: moved through the eucharistic fellowship and prayer of Holy Thursday, to the grief-stricken and solemn movements of Good Friday, and then to the joy and light of Easter.  
-Katie Maynard
 
May 14, 2025 – Lifted High
 
We recently visited Yosemite in the springtime, with its lush green meadows, forceful waterfalls and misty mountains…and also unpredictable weather.  In the morning, Half Dome and Upper Yosemite falls were not visible due to the cloud cover and fog…but as soon as the clouds parted or the fog lifted, the most incredible beauty was revealed.  
 
There are days in which I walk around with a cloud lingering over me, or feel like I’m living my day in a fog, and I’m reminded of an analogy I once heard about the distinction between consolation and desolation: “If you imagine a lamp shining its light towards you with your back to the light source, a shadow is cast in front of you (desolation).   However, when you turn to face the light source, the shadow is left behind and there is only light ahead (consolation).” 
 
Those clouds or fog often settle into my day-to-day living, because I’m getting in the way of God’s light…turned away from the source and casting a shadow in front of my steps.  So what needs to happen for the fog to be lifted?  What “wind” needs to be summoned so that the cloud is blown away?  The truth is that the wind of the Spirit is waiting and God’s light is shining…ready for me to turn around to reveal the most incredible beauty.
-Katie Maynard
 
 
May 15, 2025 – Running on Empty
 
I have always loved to drive; as I open the windows and feel the breeze, turn up the volume on the radio and sing along, driving has always been a source of peace, freedom and clarity for me.  In my youth, however, I was notorious for running out of gas.  Of course, those were the days before the advent of warning lights and sounds alerting me that I was low on gas.  There were at least a few times when I found myself on the side of the road with an empty gas tank calling AAA (or my dad) to come and rescue me.   
 
Running out of gas (or even running my laptop/phone battery to empty) feels silly – why not just take the time to fill it up or plug it in?  Yet, so often I keep running myself down to empty.  And so, the challenge for me is not to live back-and-forth between the extremes of “full” and “empty” but rather to be satisfied with “enough.”  Perhaps that is where freedom, peace and clarity reside: in the knowing that I am enough and that it is enough.  
-Katie Maynard
 
 
May 16, 2025 – Power and Beauty
 
Walking through the meadows on the valley floor of Yosemite National Park, one can see the most beautiful waterfalls and granite cliffs.  That being said, the only way to truly see the nooks, crannies, and crevices of the National Park is to hike.  On one hike in particular, we made our way up and through dense forest, near steep cliff faces and over a footbridge which took us across the Merced River with a view of Vernal Falls in the distance.  
 
We could have stopped at the footbridge, as the view was breathtaking and you could absolutely feel the power of the water flowing from the falls.  However, by hiking a bit farther on the Mist Trail, we were taken just across from the falls and were soaked with the mist as we climbed what felt like a giant stretch of rocky stairs.  Just when we questioned if we would ever get to the top, we edged around a wall of rock and came upon the crest of the waterfall spilling over the edge of the mountain.  
 
As we looked out over this incredible encounter with God’s power and beauty, it was now the footbridge that was our view in the distance.  We had to hike and climb in order to experience the glory and it was only then that we could cast our eyes upon the place from which we came.
-Katie Maynard
 
 
May 17, 2025 – Questions
 
Given my general state of curiosity, introspection, and many years as a teacher, I am constantly asking questions: questions that will help me get to know someone, questions that will help me understand the world around me, and questions that will bring me into deeper relationship.  Sometimes though, I can hide behind the questions…my subconscious avoiding self-revelation.  
 
The other day, I found myself in the car with my oldest daughters enroute to some sort of practice or meeting (a frequent occurrence these days).  To my surprise, the girls started peppering me with questions, “Mom, if you could have any job in the world what would it be?”  “Mom, what do you miss most about…”  “Mom, what is your favorite…?”  
It felt so good to have those questions turned around on me, and I thanked them for their curiosity.  The truth is that we want to be known, and as we hear in Psalm 139 “O’ God, you search me and you know me…you formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.” It is a beautiful reminder that God has always known us and is always beholding us – curious and delighting in our ways. 
-Katie Maynard
 
 
May 18, 2025 – Love One Another
 
Stored in the closet of the white room in the Social Hall there is a collection of simple white lace tablecloths used for almost everything: dinners and social events, the staff Christmas party, funeral ministry, the OCIA seder meal and many retreats.
 
These are the best tablecloths because they don’t easily wrinkle, are easy to launder and clean, and are the perfect size.  As I have pulled them out for numerous occasions these past few months, I have thought to myself, “Wow, if these tablecloths could talk!”  
 
In today’s gospel we hear of a new commandment: to love one another…and these tablecloths would have a lot to say about the ways in which we love one another in our community.  They would speak of the abundance of laughter, many tears, wine stains, good food and prayer: love shared in joy, sorrow and encounter.  
-Katie Maynard
  
May 5, 2025 - The Pope Has Died
I awoke  several weeks ago, to the news that Pope Francis had died.   In my half-asleep stupor I felt  sad, but it wasn’t until I began watching news coverage of his death that the enormity of the loss struck me.  He had not only inspired me, but he had challenged the whole world to care for the marginalized, the poor,  the homeless, the immigrant, and he did this not just with homilies, writings, and exhortations, but by the way he lived.    As I meditated on how difficult it actually is to do that, I looked again at some of the choices he made.  He did not live in the papal palace but chose instead a simple apartment.  He did not use the glass cover on the Popemobile because it separated him from the people.  He denied himself the trappings of a Prince of the church and lived as simple  a life as possible given his station and responsibilities.  When I think of how difficult it is in my own case to make choices for simple living, I am overcome with admiration at how he did it, surrounded by so many temporal trappings of power. Truly his death is a loss not just to the Church, but to the world.   
May he rest in peace and may I who call myself Catholic honor him by copying his commitment to inclusive, simple living.
Jane Haproff
 
 May 6, 2025 - Perspective
The other night I awoke and noticed that the streetlight outside our bedroom window was casting strange shadows in our room.  I looked over at David and did not recognize him in that light at all.  I assumed it was the lighting, blinked and looked again.   Still, I did not see David; rather the person next to me looked like Thomas More or Erasmus, someone from an old oil painting.  I grew frightened, sat up, cleared my eyes and looked one more time.  Sure enough, it was David lying there, but by now I didn’t trust myself to be seeing correctly.  I sat still for a minute, dumbfounded at how my awareness had changed by merely changing my perspective, by looking at him differently.  I wondered how often that might happen in other areas of my life, where changing my perspective would help me to see things differently, perhaps more clearly.  For example I believe  Jesus is wholly present in the Eucharist and in the Word. I don’t just believe this, I experience His presence there.  I also believe what Jesus said about being present in the hungry, the naked, and the homeless but I struggle to see Him clearly there.  Perhaps I need to change my perspective by ceasing to look for him there and instead  finding Him there by  getting   to know them and their stories.
Lord give me the courage to change my perspective.
Jane Haproff
 
May 7, 2025 - Waving Wayne
There is a freeway overpass through a very nice neighborhood a few blocks from our house.  A nicely dressed older man sits on a concrete ledge under the overpass  waving to every car as it passes.  He is there almost all day, every day with some water and/or coffee and newspapers with him.  He doesn’t have a big smile on his face, in fact often he appears distracted by the crossword puzzles he brings with him.  But he looks up and acknowledges every single car that passes.  I don’t know his story, and I keep meaning to stop and tell him how much it has come to mean to me to see him there, greeting us all most days.   I haven’t seen him much this last few weeks and I am worried about him.  And I am bothered by my failure to stop and talk with him.  I was always too busy, in too big a hurry to get somewhere else.   But Wayne wasn’t.   He faithfully showed up and waved.  
Father, help me to slow down and see those around me; to acknowledge their presence and to be your presence to them, much like waving Wayne reminded me of your constant presence and faithfulness.
Jane Haproff
 
May 8, 2025 - Negative Space
Our daughter took a drawing class where she was asked to focus on negative space, the space between, and around the thing.  She was promised she would discover a whole world of information.
She began  to purposely notice areas where eyes do not perceive any object… cracks in the sidewalk, the air inside the handle of a coffee cup, the thick block of nothingness between the wheels of every car. She began to see that sky, although not prominent behind the tree branches, exists, nonetheless. Even the air  in the hollow of the coffee-cup handle is made up of imperceptible molecules, there all the while. A whole world of information.
She wondered if it’s the “emptiness” that creates the object or at least defines it; if  the negative space allows the positive subject to borrow from it, to shift its definition, change its shape, its meaning.  The breeze blows a branch and the space is transformed. My hand reaches for the cup and the scoop in the handle fills in. An ever-shifting of something-ness into nothingness and back again. Emptiness, the amenable partner who foretells the next move, and steps aside to make room for the dance.  She concluded:  let the shape, the unnamable but not unknowable, rest in your sights. It is there. Let it be.   And I am reminded that empty space is not negative, it is filled with the presence of God the undefinable but not unknowable that contains a whole world of meaning.
Jane Haproff
 
May 9, 2025 - Fire
In Braiding Sweetgrass , Robin Wall Kimmerer brings the ancient knowledge of indigenous people   combined with scientific investigative methods to environmental issues.  In one chapter she describes the many types of  and uses for fire and identifies four kinds of fire.  The first is the campfire, which provides warmth, a method for cooking, and brings people together in a community setting where stories are often shared.  The second fire is the Thunderbird fire, or forest fire which we usually see as destructive, overlooking the creative energy in fire that brings forth certain species of plants that go dormant without it.  The third kind of fire is ceremonial.  I thought of how on Holy Saturday the vigil service begins with the lighting of the fire, from which the Pascal candle is lit, and then each person lights a candle from that, until the dark Church is filled with light, reminding us that light always overcomes the dark.  The fourth kind of fire is the fire within.  Kimmer quotes a firekeeper:  “’the hardest one to take care of is the one right here’ he says, tapping his finger against his chest. ‘…we all carry a piece of that sacred fire within us.  We have to honor it and care for it.  You are the firekeeper.’”  Again, I return to my own tradition where the Holy Spirit descended on the heads of the disciples as tongues of fire…the Holy Spirit within.
Father help me share your fire within so that it is a creative force in a troubled world.
Jane Haproff
 
May 10 , 2025 – Story Telling
Our son is a story teller.   He turns the ordinary events of our family history into stories that are usually funny, often touching and always memorable.  Of course these stories are usually embellished and or exaggerated but they capture the essence of so many things.  
We were all together in Hawaii at his wedding last week; most of our families and his friends were able to attend.  We have met many of his friends over the years, and we’ve heard stories about most all of them, as they have heard stores of our family.  It was an amazing experience to open elevator doors at the hotel and meet someone we had heard stories about, “Oh you’re so and so…I know you!!”
It made me think of the Gospels where Jesus’ close friends tell us stories about Him in such a way that we come to know Him.  Are the stories one hundred percent factual?  Probably not, but they are truthful retellings of an experience so profound that they wanted to make us part of it.
I can imagine myself meeting Jesus after death and saying “Oh…I know you!”
Jane Haproff'

May 11, 2025 – Motherhood
Having just spent a week with our children and their families I have had ample opportunity to think about motherhood from many different perspectives.  There are the different ways each of us mother our children, as well as the sometimes critical remarks others who have no children can make out of love, concern and ignorance.  And there is the metaphor of motherhood that the Church has adopted for itself.
In each instance we have the example of Mary.  In most cases mothers fall head over heels in love with their babies when they first meet; so I think of Mary  who must have fallen in love so deeply with the infant Jesus who was born in such impoverished circumstances.
I remember telling my youngest child when she was three that I loved her so much it hurt.  She responded, “Mama, talk regular”.  How sad that that wasn’t regular.  How sad that we often think of Mother Church as a rule giver instead of a sanctuary of love.  How sad that there are children that no one has fallen drunk in love with. How sad that all of us aren’t so in love with God’s creation that we want to mother it back to health.
Mother Mary pray for us that the love you showed to Jesus might become commonplace in the world we have been given.
Jane Haproff
 

April 28, 2025 - State of Confusion
I love this time of year when the weather is confused; it wants to be Spring, but some days still feel like winter.  The days are getting longer and a spring bloom is in the air.  Additionally, the readings are from the Acts of Apostles where it feels like we are walking side by side with the Apostles as they wrestle with the disbelief of the local people regarding Jesus’ resurrection while also knowing Jesus fulfilled all he said he would.  As I read over the first reading today the words “You said by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:25) jumped out at me.  It made me think of how as a kid I would often remind my parents “but you said” when they would make statements of what we could or could not do.  It was reminiscent of the Apostles confirming that Christ fulfilled his promises and how the missing pieces from Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection now made sense.  They sounded no longer confused but assured of Jesus; however, they didn’t understand why there was still opposition to his Resurrection and Divinity.  Then as if they were answering their own questions, they were reminded that even those who oppose Christ serve a purpose and it is all part of His divine plan, even if we don’t understand it.  
Lord, help me when I am confused and do not always understand your plan, whether it be for me, my children, or our environment.  Help me to see your hand in all that surrounds me, knowing that it serves your divine purpose.
Bianca Hennager
 
April 29, 2025 -  The Greatest Story
I read a quote the other day that said, “there will be a thousand different stories about you; in some you will be the hero, and others the villain.”  It made me think about Christ’s story.  How is it that his story has withstood the test of time?  That even two thousand years later we still recount his passion, death, and resurrection.  We still recount the Last Supper during each  Eucharistic prayer.  It is mind baffling to me as I ponder this, but it helps solidify my belief that Christ is the Son of God.  Who else can say the same?
Bianca Hennager
 
 
April 30, 2025 - An In-n-Out Cup
I didn’t learn until recently that In-N-Out cup has bible verses subtlety listed on their packaging.   You can find John 3:16 on the bottom lip of a soda cup, other verses on a milkshake cup, and more verses can be located on a French fry container and burger wrappers.  It became a game for our family when we first learned about this neat little secret and we looked up the verses and meaning.  Today’s Gospel is the famous John 3:16 verse that so many Christians quote and use.  While reflecting on the Gospel I was reminded of the great sacrificial love God has for each of us so that he willingly gave up his Son for us.  Being a mother to four beautiful children I don’t know if I could make that choice: to give up one of my children for the sake of someone else?  Let alone someone who I didn’t like/trust?    I pray I am never faced with such a decision.  I am eternally grateful that God’s love is sacrificial and abundant in generosity.  Additionally, I am grateful for the bravery of our businesses who are not ashamed to brand/market their faith in a subtle way.  It was a great way to have some fun with the kids as we enjoyed In-n-Out the other day.
Bianca Hennager
 
May 1, 2025  - St. Joseph
Today on the feast day of St. Joseph, I am reminded of the importance of St. Joseph and his invaluable role in the Holy Family.  We have a unique picture of the Holy Family in our house where you can see Mary resting in the background while St. Joseph is holding the newborn baby Jesus.  It is not something you typically see and one that has taken on more meaning as the years have passed.  St. Joseph helped shape and form Jesus as a young man, teaching him a trade, modeling for him how to live his life though Jesus was divine and human. We recently celebrated the year of St. Joseph from December 2020 to November 2021.  During that year of St. Joseph, I joined a group of women who read Fr. Donald Calloway’s Consecration to St. Joseph.  I learned so much more about St. Joseph and his role as protector, and my absolute favorite saying “terror of demons”.  St. Joseph was the model husband, father, and worker for all of us to learn from.
St. Joseph the protector, guardian of Jesus, help us to come to you in times of trouble when we need your guidance on how to build our own families into being what God needs for the domestic Church.  
Bianca Hennager
 
 May 2, 2025  - Pray More Push Less
As I navigate into this new space of having adult children, I am often reminded how my role has evolved.   I now am asked to be more of a listener and guide vs. structuring an itinerary / playbook for my children to follow.   It is such a weird place to be in at times as I hold my breath and brace myself for the latest adventure my second son has taken or hold my heart as I hear the stress my oldest son is feeling while wrapping up his clinicals in nursing school.  I bite my tongue more times than I can count and I try to give a gentle nudge or a friendly reminder when we chat.  Much like any new stage of parenting, I feel woefully unprepared and seek out any available resource.  One thing that I am reminded of is to pray more and push less.  Though I may have the answers to my older children’s questions and have had similar life experiences, I am learning the importance of praying for them and walking with them as they walk their own path.  I find that our heavenly Father is much the same, quiet yet attentive, waiting to listen to our prayers, and ready to greet us as we come to him.
Bianca Hennager
 
May 3, 2025 - Why Do I Have to Slay the Dragon?
One of my favorite Saint stories that I read to our kids when they were little was the story of St. George slaying a dragon.  It is a lovely tale that has all the makings of a great medieval plot:  A knight, a dragon, good triumphing over evil, etc.  As I ponder over the lives of the saints, I often wonder what if St. George complained about having to slay a dragon.   I wonder if he told God to pick someone else; that the thought of slaying a dragon just seemed to be too much of an ask.  Today’s “dragons” may not be as we envisioned them once upon a time.  I imagine my “dragons” to be more figurative i.e. a friend battling cancer, life’s trials and tribulations, etc.  I look to the lives of the saints and those heroic people like St. George to give me courage and faith if I am called to be a dragon slayer; and to look upon my own difficulties as dragons to be slain. These experiences of slaying dragons offer us opportunities to grow in faith; and to grow more closely with God.
Bianca Hennager
 
May 4, 2025 - Feed my Sheep
Today’s Gospel is one of my favorite stories because two weeks ago we just heard about Peter’s denial of Jesus in the Passion narrative. No we read about Peter’s restored relationship with Christ and his call to be an example of Christ’s love and service.   It is such a beautiful comparison as the 3 denials are juxtaposed to the 3 requests to “feed my lambs”; “tend my sheep”; and “feed my sheep”.  I imagine Peter being redeemed in this moment and that despite his failings, Jesus is entrusting him to carry on the work Jesus began.  What an awesome responsibility to be given despite having deeply hurting Jesus at his lowest moment when he was arrested.  It gives me hope that despite my many failings and the times when I have denied Christ in action or word that he could look to me and ask me to “feed his sheep”.   
Lord, may I be reminded of your unfailing love despite my many shortcomings.  May I be open to your call of love and service to those in my midst even when I cannot see your face before me.  May I seek to restore any broken relationships with the help of your grace as you modeled for us.
Bianca Hennager

April 21, 2025 -  Meeting Jesus 
The Gospel reading for the Monday after Easter is of Mary Magdalene and ‘the other Mary leaving the empty tomb ‘fearful yet overjoyed’. This Gospel account from Matthew includes layers of meaning that instruct us on our journey of faith. First, Mary Magdalene is present in all four Gospels as first witness of the empty tomb of Jesus. As a faithful follower of Jesus, she was present at the cross and first to the empty tomb. In Matthew’s account, while on her way to tell the other disciples of the empty tomb, Jesus arrives and tells her not to be afraid.  
In an early tribute to the faith of women, all four Gospels note that Mary Magdalene is first witness to the resurrection. I would guess that all of us can name a faithful woman of the Gospel who has been critical in our journey of faith. Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, teachers, catechists, religious sisters, theologians, artists, and other women who have gifted the People of God and society at large with their witness.   
Second, Jesus met them along the way, told them not to be afraid, and commissioned them to go forth. Life often has tragedies, illnesses, setbacks and challenges. Yet, in all of those cases, Jesus meets us and tells us not to be afraid. Jesus told Mary Magdalene he would meet his disciples in Galilee, with the same message, ‘peace’ and go forth. Likewise, he meets me wherever I am with that same message.
Daryl Grigsby  
 
 April 22, 2025 -  Changed 
The Gospel reading for today’s Mass is John 20:11-18. Several years ago I had the pleasure of hearing a lecture from Sister Sandra Schneiders on John 20. Over the course of eight hours, she gave rich insights from this chapter of the Gospel. If you ever have a chance, I recommend viewing one of her lectures on YouTube, or, reading her book, ‘Written That You Might Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel’.  
In the workshop I attended, she highlighted Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus outside the empty tomb. Seeing Jesus was not there, Mary Magdalene wept, and responded to the angels inside that she did not know where the body of Jesus was. She then turned and faced Jesus, and thought he was the gardener. He asked why she was weeping and who she was looking for.  Still thinking he was the gardener, she asked if he had carried Jesus away, and where he was so she could take his body. When he calls her by name, she ‘turns’ and realizes it is Jesus. Sandra Schneiders pointed out the significance of her ‘turn’:  Mary Magdalene had already physically turned to face Jesus (verse 14). Thus, the turning in verse 16 was a spiritual turning and transformation from encountering the Risen Christ. Further, this change came after Jesus called her by name. Thus, it is with all of us. Jesus calls me by my own name, and my heart is ‘turned’ and I am changed.
Daryl Grigsby  
 
 April 23, 2025 - Love 
Today’s Gospel reading is the beautiful story of two people encountering Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. There have been countless homilies, paintings and other expressions of this incredible Gospel account. This story resonates with so many Christians because the road to Emmaus often represents our own journey. We are often walking along, troubled by recent events, unsure of our destination or future – and Jesus meets us along the way. In the Gospel account and in our lives, Jesus comes alongside and asks what we are thinking about, talking about, or troubled by. In the Gospel account he even asks for clarification, when he asks, ‘what things?’  He walks with the two all the way to Emmaus, all the time speaking to them of the scriptures, the Word of God as revealed to humanity. In doing so He reminds us all that the scriptures are not just words, they speak of Jesus, and they are how Jesus speaks with us. 
Once in Emmaus, they shared a meal. Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and gave it to them. After they received the Bread of Life, their eyes were opened, and they recognized it was Jesus. Just as the two saw Jesus in the breaking of bread together, so we too encounter the Real and Risen Jesus in the Eucharist. Every Eucharist includes those same words, bread taken, broken, blessed and given, and I am reminded that God is Love. I am also asked to love as Jesus loves. 
Daryl Grigsby  
  
 April 24, 2025 -  Peace 
Today’s Gospel reading has the two followers on the Emmaus road returning to Jerusalem to meet with the eleven disciples. While speaking of their encounter, Jesus appears and stands in their midst. The first words he speaks to them are: ‘Peace be with you.’ I have often wondered why, of all the words to say to his followers, why is ‘peace’ the word of greeting. He also says the same to his followers in John 20, not once, but on two different occasions. He doesn’t demand worship, call for repentance or have words of judgement or criticism. Instead, his first words to his followers, after arising from the dead, is a greeting of peace.  
I can imagine that those are the first words Jesus has for us. Before we begin our day, head off for school, work or other obligations, imagine if we heard Jesus speak to us clearly, a word of peace. Peace is God’s reminder to us to rest in the knowledge that God is with us. All the anxieties, doubts, and challenges of life are a reality. Yet, we are asked to be at peace. Further, some have noted the Hebrew word for peace, shalom, is a wish for our well-being. The Risen Jesus wished for his followers, and for me,  peace, wholeness, and well-being. He knows that for me to go forth in love, for us to fulfil our obligations to ourselves, our families, our parish and others, we must all first be whole and well.  
Daryl Grigsby  
  
April 25, 2025 -   A Personal Invitation
Todays Gospel reading is from the final chapter of John 21, which describes six of Jesus’ followers following Simon Peter to go fishing on the Sea of Tiberias. They later saw Jesus, who they did not recognize, standing on the shore. He asked if they had caught any fish, and after hearing they caught none, he told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Following these instructions they ended with a large catch. Realizing it was Jesus, Peter jumped in the water and swam to shore, and the other six rowed to shore as well. 
There on the shore was Jesus, with a charcoal fire, fish and bread. In one of the   passages of scripture I find most fascinating, Jesus invites the seven to, ‘Come, have breakfast.’ Jesus the teacher and healer, Jesus the Risen One; invites the tired and confused disciples to join him for breakfast. Cooking breakfast is that era was most likely done by women. Yet, here is Jesus Christ, assuming the role of servant, cook and friend to his disciples. Imagine that in our own lives. In the midst of uncertainty, sadness, grief, and other challenges of life, Jesus invites me to join him for breakfast. He invites me to join him in conversation, sharing with him my joys and sorrows. Of all the invitations Jesus offers in the four Gospels, perhaps the most personal and most transformative is, ‘Come, have breakfast.’ 
Daryl Grigsby  
  
April 26, 2025 -  Companions of Jesus
The first reading for today’s Mass is from the Book of Acts, and notes that the religious leaders were amazed at the preaching and healings of Peter and John. The leaders saw them as uneducated and quite ordinary. Yet their words and deeds were too compelling to be ignored. Further, the religious elders and scribes recognized Peter and John as companions of Jesus. One can but imagine what the leaders were thinking. They knew that Jesus was crucified; many of them were at his trial, saw him beaten, watched him carry his cross, and witnessed his final breath. Yet, here we are, weeks later, and his followers are not frightened, hiding, or ashamed. Instead, they are publicly preaching that Jesus is alive, and they are offering healing and salvation in his name. 
The book of Acts also notes the religious leaders conferred among themselves and asked, ‘what are we to do’ with these people? This reading has implications for all of us who follow Jesus today. I imagine if those around me, after hearing my words, and watching my deeds, recognized me as a ‘companion of Jesus.’ I was not present at the Last Supper, the trial, the crucifixion, the resurrection, or Pentecost; I have nevertheless come to believe in Jesus Christ. I have been baptized, confirmed, and have participated in the Eucharist. Through Jesus Christ I have access to the Father and have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus, like the early disciples, I too can be recognized as ‘companion’ of Jesus.
Daryl Grigsby  
 
 April 27, 2025 – Encountering the Risen Lord
Today’s Gospel reading is perhaps one of the most well-known post-resurrection appearances. The reading from John 20 has Jesus appearing first to the disciples without Thomas, and then, a second time, with Thomas present. As many know from the Gospel, the disciples who saw Jesus the first time tell Thomas that He is Risen. Thomas does not believe their words and further insists that he will not believe such a thing unless he can touch the nail marks in his hands and the wound at his side. He boldly asserts that is the only way he will believe that Jesus is risen. 
A week later, Jesus appears to the disciples again, and Thomas is among them. Jesus offers his body to Thomas and tells him to touch his wounds and see his hands. The scripture does not say whether Thomas ever touched the wounds. One could surmise that since the scripture was clear about Thomas’s claim of doubting until he could touch the wounds, that such an act would be recorded. The Gospel merely says Thomas responded, ‘My Lord and My God!’. While Thomas is often referred to as ‘doubting Thomas’, in many ways he is much like me. While it is good to hear of another’s experience with the Risen Christ, what matters most is my own encounter. Jesus offered  Thomas the opportunity to  see Jesus as he is, and Thomas believed. May we all see Jesus for ourselves, and exclaim, ‘My Lord and My God.’ 
Daryl Grigsby  

April 14, 2025 - Do You Recognize Him?
Oftentimes when I watch a movie or TV show with my parents there is bound to be an actor or actress from something we’ve seen before. My parents will ask “Do you recognize him?” or “Does her voice sound familiar?” I am not very good at this game. Most of the time I give up and then kick myself for not recognizing the actor sooner. I often get that same feeling when God acts within my life. I may not recognize it at the time, but upon reflection I see His hand in my life and regret not noticing sooner.
Sarah Pipitone
  
April 15, 2025 - Stumble Through
In the theatre there is a rehearsal known as a “stumble through.” This is the first time we are without our scripts and there is no one feeding us our lines. We must continue with the scene as if we were performing it live, which usually results in a large amount of stumbling. Although often frustrating in the moment, these stumble throughs show us what we need to work on to become better actors. When I am stumbling through life and getting frustrated, I feel as though God is simply showing me where I need to put in work to become a better person.
Sarah Pipitone
  
April 16, 2025 - Winning
I am a very competitive person in a very competitive family. No one ever “let me win” growing up, and we tend to find a way to make fun things into a competition. Even when we are just doing something that is definitely not a competition, we’ll refer to it as winning. Finished a library book a week before it was due? Winning! Finished your to-do list? Winning! Made it to stations of the cross every Friday this year? Definitely winning. While this mentality is fun, it puts things out of perspective. Life is not a competition. Though it is important to celebrate the little things, we are all winners and equals in the eyes of the Lord.
Sarah Pipitone
 
April 17, 2025 - Letters of Recommendation
Recently I have had to apply to various colleges, scholarships, and internships that require letters of recommendation. While it is nerve wracking to request them from the people in my life who I look up to and respect, these same people have written beautiful testimonies to my character. It made me wonder what kind of a letter I would have gotten from God, had I asked. He knows me better than anyone as He has seen everything I’ve done from the moment I was born. How does He see me? What witty anecdotes would He share? Am I living a life worthy of His recommendation?
Sarah Pipitone
 
 April 18, 2025 - Modern Shepherd
The Lord is often referred to as a shepherd, which is a metaphor for Him being someone who guides us. This made waaay more sense when every town had their local shepherds. I think in the modern world He would be called an influencer. Imagine how quick His message could have spread if it were live streamed. So the question becomes: do we invest as much time and trust in Jesus as we do in influencers on our screens? Personally, I know that is definitely something I could work on.
Sarah Pipitone
  
April 19, 2025 - Forgiveness
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to forgive four hundred ninety times (7 x 70). In other words, stop harboring grudges. My best friend is the best grudge harborer I’ve ever seen. I doubt she would take well to this particular teaching. But picking and choosing is so not how the Gospels work. So if you are like my friend (or even me . . .) I implore you to let go of those grudges and forgive a four hundred ninety-first time.
Sarah Pipitone
 
April 20, 2025 - Dory
If you are unfamiliar with the character Dory from the Pixar film Finding Nemo, she is a fish with short term memory loss who constantly needs reminders about what she is doing, much to the initial annoyance of her companions. Sometimes I feel like Dory, forgetting God in my day to day activities and needing constant reminders. Thank goodness He is a patient and loving God who continues to remind me of his love even in my times of forgetfulness.
Sarah Pipitone

April 7, 2025 - The Light 
 
It’s wonderful having more hours of sunshine this time of year. The increased daylight has a significant effect on me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I feel happier, more energetic, more motivated, and acutely aware of God’s blessings all around me. 
 
Light has so many positive characteristics and connotations. Light at the end of a tunnel means there is hope and a bright future ahead. Light conquering darkness implies goodness defeating evil. We are known to “light up” when we are happy, have gained knowledge, or have a great idea. The light of the sun, moon, and stars creates some of the most incredible images we’ll ever see. Light illuminates, reveals, clarifies, guides. Light warms and comforts us. 
 
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 
(John 8:12)
 
God, the creator of all light and the giver of life, sent us an amazing gift in Jesus Christ!  He is our light, our source, our power to affect positive change in ourselves and the world. He can light up all aspects of our daily living — if we choose to follow Him. 
 
Accepting this invitation means I am called not only to walk with Him, but to reflect God’s light and love to others. 
Every day is an opportunity to embrace The Light of Christ and share it with others. How will I follow His example and be The Light for someone today? 
Maria Montalvo
 
 April 8, 2025 - Love is Like a Sunset 
 
Looking at a beautiful sunset is one of my favorite things to do. Fortunately, with a west facing backyard, I can simply look out my family room windows to see it. I also live around the corner from a park which has an unobstructed view of the sunset. If I happen to be driving, sometimes I will pull over to admire God’s magnificent display of light and color.   There's nothing like an awesome sunset to stop me in my tracks and remind me how incredibly fortunate I am to be loved and alive. 
 
One night while watching the setting sun, I began to think about how real love is like a gorgeous sunset…Its stunning beauty can make us pause and take notice, producing in us profound feelings of awe and appreciation. Sometimes, cloudy skies will create the most remarkable and impressive changes. Its manifestation may vary, but it is unfailing makes an impact on a daily basis. Like love its intensity can literally take our breath away. Its promise is true. 
 
Whatever you do today, try to carve out a little time to experience the sunset. You will not be disappointed. And, while you enjoy its splendor, remember how much God loves you!  
Maria Montalvo 
 
 April 9, 2025 - Hope
As we all grapple with the challenges of our current political climate and the turmoil all around the world, I pray to remember that God is always present to help and guide us.   While there is turmoil in this big complicated world, there is far more goodness throughout. Let us cherish each day, stay humble and take nothing for granted. If I feel stressed, confused, or angry there is something I can always hold on to…I describe it like this: a brightness that can be seen at the end of a tunnel. It can lift spirits from the deepest darkest abyss. It can inspire the weary, ignite change, and bring millions of people together. It can be felt, but not touched. Without it, I can feel defeated and just a glimmer of it can save a life. 
Sometimes life can feel like a series of complex riddles, for which there are no answers. But, no matter what happens, I pray that all people can feel God’s presence, realize how much they are loved, and never lose hope.
In the 2025 Jubilee Prayer we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope:
“…May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. Amen.
Maria Montalvo
 
 
April 10, 2025 - Faithful Unions
 
Recently my family celebrated the lives of my aunt and uncle who entered the gates of heaven. They were married over 77 years! This is the longest marriage of any couple I know. I am fortunate to have witnessed their relationship as well as other long-lasting, successful marriages in my family. I have multiple relatives with 50+ years of marriage, another aunt and uncle who were married nearly 63 years, and my own parents who will be celebrating their 67th anniversary this June! It’s pretty remarkable when I think about it. 
 
While they all have several things in common such as patience, communication, forgiveness, and understanding, I learned long ago that the most important factor in their unions was their Catholic faith. Ever since I was young, my parents said repeatedly “A marriage takes three,” to last a lifetime. Their vows are a faithful union of husband, wife, and Jesus Christ. There is no better example of steadfast and unconditional love than what God has for each of us. To know that kind of immense love, and incorporate it into one’s relationship with a spouse, will undoubtedly make a marriage stronger. Being raised in the faith and having the living examples of such unwavering commitment has been an absolute blessing. 
 
I pray that all people will welcome Christ into their relationships as an active and essential part of their faithful unions. 
 
“Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13: 7, 8a
Maria Montalvo 
 
 April 11, 2025 - Misunderstood 
 
This week’s Gospel readings recounted some of the experiences Jesus had trying to explain who he was and why people should follow him. While some understood and came to believe in him, others remained confused. Some considered him blasphemous and wanted to stone him. As we know, this escalated in the days to follow and resulted in his crucifixion.
 
It saddens me to think about the days preceding his death, when he was misunderstood by so many. He used simple words to convey complex ideas which people simply could not grasp or refused to accept. Even his own apostles had a hard time understanding what his words meant when he foretold his fate. This must have been extremely frustrating for him, and frightening too, knowing what was to come. 
 
Lord, 
I ask for your continued guidance when life gets complicated, and I don’t understand the ways you are speaking to us. May I trust in your loving presence, especially when I are overcome with confusion or frustration. Help me to be patient with others when I am misunderstood. Lead me on the path to being more like you. Amen 
Maria Montalvo
 
  
April 12, 2025 - Easter Sunday in the Snow
 
This Lent I am reminded of the time our family celebrated Easter in the snow. Our walk on that Easter Sunday was a beautiful experience I’ll never forget. I can picture it now:  warm rays of springtime beamed through the trees, as the sun slowly descended over the tall mountains. The light shone upon the landscape of a melting winter and danced over the surface of the snow. Between the shadows of the trees, the ice crystals reflected the early evening sunlight, making the ground's snow-white layer sparkle like a field of mirrored glass. The reflection produced a rainbow in the snow with bright purple as the dominant color. Our son noticed this and captured the most amazing photo. Purple, symbolic of Lent, represents honor, the sovereignty of our King and Savior, his power over death and sin. How timely was God's revelation!  As the cold of winter is replaced with the warmth of spring, the snow melts and new life emerges. We too make a transition as we travel from darkness to light through the sacrifice of Lent to the miracle of Christ's resurrection. 
 
I will always remember that enlightening walk in the mountains, when purple crystals glistened on our sparkling white path, leading us to the light of Christ, on that Easter Sunday in the snow. 
What signs is God revealing to me this Lent? Let me slow down and open my eyes, ears, and heart to the ways He speaks to me... or I just might pass them by. 
Maria Montalvo 
 
April 13, 2025 - Forgiveness 
 
Today is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus’ triumphant yet humble entrance into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week. Jesus was welcomed by people, many waving palm branches, symbolic of life and victory. It was a joyous occasion which soon took an opposite turn, leading to Jesus’ awful torture and death. When I think about the events that took place at that time, I’m filled with an unsettling mix of emotions. I feel sadness, pain, disbelief, anger and even joy.  I question how such an injustice could’ve happened, although I know it was all in God’s plan. 
 
In the midst of Jesus’ suffering, right before he died, he prayed, asking God to forgive those who were crucifying him. He said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
This act of ultimate forgiveness has a huge impact on me every time I hear it. Of all the emotions I feel recounting the Passion of The Lord, forgiveness is not one of them. It isn’t until I hear Jesus’ words that I am reminded of how important it is to forgive. For most people forgiveness does not come naturally. It takes a great deal of effort. But it is essential for us to forgive in order to move forward with peace. Then I remember that Lent is not only a time for repenting our sins, but also a time to forgive others. Letting go of resentment and ill feelings allows me to enter into the Easter season ready for new beginnings.
Maria Montalvo

March 31, 2025 - Half the Battle
          This expression comes from an 18th-century proverb, "The first blow is half the battle". This means that if you can withstand the first blow, then you have endured what is typically the hardest part of the battle.  The expression was used by my dad and I adopted it.   I reflected that taking the first step on a journey or task or recognizing a personal fault and asking forgiveness is ‘half the battle’.  
          I do jobs and repairs around the house as you all do.  At times I have a problem which I know nothing about how to address.  After a little research and prayer, I launch into the task.  Sometime it proceeds smoothly, sometimes it’s a real bumpy road.  In all cases, I realize that just committing to the start is ‘half the battle’.  Once I have begun, the initial reluctance, fear of failure, or making matters worse goes away because I’ve endured ‘half the battle’.
          Jesus must be aware of my human frailties when it comes to problems of the world and problems of my spirit and soul.  My church must know this with the timing of Lent. Jesus’ recurrent message is to not be afraid, including failure, and to always remember that he is present and acting through the Holy Spirit.  To have tried is to know that the effort is equally important as the result.  Deciding to and starting to love the world the way God does is ‘half the battle’.
Ray Frink
  
April 1, 2025
 Conversion not Coercion
When discussing a patient’s needs, a habit guided me in my medical practice.  I’d ask myself if I was seeing the patient from 10,000 feet, the big picture, encompassing the patient, her family, and community, and only then focusing on the person in front of me.  This approach goes beyond medicine to my Church and my country.   When I view an issue from 10,000 feet, I appreciate the scope and implications, but I lose sight of what is right in front of me.  The danger is that when I only look at an issue from 10,000 feet, the earthbound view is lost.  The earthbound view is where life is lived.  
          The issue at hand could be LGBTQ Catholics, immigration, the environment, hunger or homelessness.  Often the solution that different opinions try is the simplest:  make a regulation, pass a law, impose a penalty.  This was very common to the religious leaders of Jesus’ time.  What Jesus points out in Mark 2:23-28 is that if this is the only view, then the loving and the compassionate act and perhaps a better solution is lost.  I believe that my role is to convert, not coerce, and conversion happens with my words and actions.   As I daily examine the needs of my world, while asking the Lord what we are to do today, I will try to remember that although I may see the 10,000 ft view, I and those I encounter live here on the ground. 
Ray Frink
 
 April 2, 2025 - Labels
          I don’t like labels.  They tell me nothing about the person or situation about which I am often asked to judge.  In my faith I hear that someone is a pre-Vatican II or post-Vatican II Catholic.   In a broader view, labels I use can involve mental state, political view, citizenship, regard or disregard for life, intelligence, etc.  In quality journalism there is an unspoken rule:  never use a label when you can describe a person or situation.  When I heard this, I realized how often it is easy to use a label.  I will try to use labels less in the future and when I hear a label, I will question it.   I surprised myself because I am a data collector, which is itself, a label of sorts.  This is how I conduct myself:  I gather enough quality information until I can come as close as I can to making an unbiased and loving decision. Describing a person or situation should rarely involve a label.  
          In the gospels, Jesus avoided labels.   Labels limit and bind me in my ideas about others.  In a previous reflection I referred to the 4 Ds of evil: deception, division, diversion, and discouragement.  I think labels meet the first three of these.  Jesus addressed individuals and their needs.  He spoke to the hearts of people and called them beyond themselves.  If Jesus listened to labels would Matthew have been called, the Samaritan women reformed, or the slave of a Roman Centurion healed?  
Ray Frink
 
 April 3, 2025 - Hero or Saint
          St.   Ignatius Loyola’s history is well known as a soldier, wounded in battle and discovering his faith through study of the lives of the saints.  A modern-day soldier, Adm William McRaven, gave a virtual commencement address to the 2020 graduating class of MIT.  In his address Adm McRaven speaks clearly about what it is to be a true hero:   moral courage, humility, sacrifice, perseverance, integrity and compassion.   My Catholic faith bestows a different title on those who live exemplary lives with these characteristics:  saints.  Reinforced by faith, prayer, and the sacraments, saints live lives of unequaled courage, profound humility, great sacrifice and unmeasurable perseverance, integrity, and compassion. 
          I do not have what it takes to be a saint. I understand what moral courage, humility, sacrifice, perseverance, integrity, and compassion involve.    I think I have the perseverance.  The sacrifice and courage items need work.  I strive for integrity and compassion. Humility is the toughest because society so emphasizes that humility is weakness, when my heart tells me that it is profound strength.  So I reflect on Micah 6:8 “…what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right, to love goodness, and walk humbly with your God” (NAB).   Adm McRaven’s address concludes with these words: “For what hero (or saint) gives so much of themselves without caring for those they are trying to save.”
Ray Frink
 
 Friday April 4, 2025 - Let’s Make a Deal
          When my wife, Cathy, and I met she thought I would be a scientist.  She watched me through grad school and my post-PhD work.  One day I announced that I wanted to go to medical school.  Though surprised at first, and reassured by me that I was serious and would only try one admissions cycle, she gave her full support and assurance that I could do it.   When Cathy told a female friend of this, her friend’s response was, “What are you getting in return?”   If Cathy was going along with this, what would Cathy get?  What is Cathy’s part of the transaction?  
          This question never occurred to my wonderful wife.  We take the team approach. If this is what I felt I was called to do, then I should do it.   Cathy also knew that if she chose not to use her degrees in the usual fashion, or change careers, I would fully support her with no thought of ‘Let’s Make a Deal’.   I see in many relationships and throughout government, society and sports the transactional approach.  Put another way, I won’t give to you unless you give to me something of equal or greater value.  This is not part of my life in the Body of Christ.  Jesus asks me to love as he loved and live with mercy and compassion without worldly reward.  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” Luke 9: 22-25.    
Ray Frink
 
 April 5, 2025 - Truth
          I have a travel mug emblazoned with “Mission Made”, because I was raised in the Mission District of San Francisco.   I am grateful that I am “Mission Made”.  My block was the ‘United Nations’ with inhabitants whose ancestors came from Northern Europe, Italy, Africa, Ireland, Germany, Russia, and the Philippines.  My Catholic grammar school was ethnically mixed.  My first piano teacher was a woman who chain smoked, drank regular caffeinated Coca-Cola and spoke with a Texas drawl.  I knew gang members, police officers, and, in high school, the sons of the rich and powerful.  Everything I have said is true.   You will likely never meet any of them.  You likely believe me but I could be lying.  It is easy for the speaker to lie to the listener about someone the listener will never meet.  It is just as easy to believe a lie about a person or group you have never met, especially if that lie is repeated.   Benjamin Franklin said,” Half a truth is often a great lie”.
          Scripture is clear about telling the truth.  I have the Ten Commandments.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Jesus repeatedly chastises the Pharisees for using the law to obscure the truth of his message:  that He came for all.  I always speak the truth about the people from my past and who surround me in the present.   I seek the truth both in faith and in public discourse, and the truth will set me free. 
Ray Frink
 
 April 6, 2025  - It’s Not Pie
As a scientist/physician, I rarely say something absolute, and I try to avoid making judgements. But I say absolutely: there is no place for ‘zero-sum’ in Christianity.  Zero-sum means: relating to or denoting a situation in which whatever is gained by one side is lost by the other (Oxford Dictionary).  I reject zero-sum because it contradicts what I believe about the love, mercy, and compassion that Jesus lived. But a zero-sum attitude, an attitude of scarcity, seems dominant in the secular and political world: if you have more, then I must have less. If you have more freedom, I have less. If you have more opportunity, then I have less. In the Christianity I believe, more blessings for you does not mean less for me.  It’s not pie.  Some in professional sports know this. To quote JJ Watt, a retired football star: “As I grew older and wiser, I learned that life isn’t about how many people you can knock down, it’s about how many people you can lift up.”
    So I believe that God provides whatever I need. I believe that love shared is doubled and sorrow shared is reduced by half. I believe that all I possess began as a gift to me and I believe Micah 6:8: do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. I try to live these beliefs as I know many of you do. Now the challenge is: how do we lift each other up in a world that believes otherwise?
Ray Frink

March 24, 2023 - The Samaritan Woman at the Well
This is a favorite of mine!   From the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke, I learned that the Samaritans were the classic “other” for the Jews—not liked, not trusted, the alien at the border, etc.  Enter Jesus at a well in Samaritan territory… The well is a source of water, essential for life, and especially important in the deserts of the middle east.  In dreamwork, a well is a symbol of access to the depths.  The well taps into the Life Source, the underground stream. Not only does Jesus approach the Samaritan woman without distain, he asks her for water.   I wonder if he is metaphorically inviting her to see her own depths, her beloved-ness, her own soul?  As I image the scene, he allows her to banter with him.   It feels almost playful. In my imagining, she says, You want a drink from me? From my unclean hands?  And then Jesus reveals that he IS the Source of living water. Maybe a little confused now, she says, “you don’t even have a bucket.” But she wants what he is offering. She’s hooked.  He breaks the boundary, shows her who He is and who she is through His eyes, God’s eyes.  
Thank you, Jesus, for breaking all boundaries to reach each of us. Thank you for the gift of your living water and the example of how to treat the stranger.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   
 
March 25, 20225 - Mid-Lent
Isn’t it interesting that Lent always begins with the story of Jesus being led into the desert to be tempted?  When I let myself sink into Lent, I can experience the grace of being led into the desert. For me, going into the desert is being vulnerable and aware of the whole of who I am…including the parts of me I am less fond of.  The desert is not a popular place, but it is a place of clarity and honesty.  There are no pretenses in the desert. Pretending can get one hurt. Knowing the difference between a mirage and an oasis requires clear vision and discernment.
At the threshold of my human frailty, on my pilgrimage to the desert, I meet my missed opportunities, my misplaced anger, my failures and my fears. But the desert is also the place where I am met with grace, not because I passed the test, but because I saw the truth and realized I am still God’s beloved.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   
 
March 26, 2025 - When Practices “Don’t Work”
In a recent conversation with one of my dear soul friends, we reflected on a common feeling which we have both experienced at times—the feeling that a spiritual practice seems dry, that a prayer practice or meditation that used to feel fruitful for years suddenly seems “not to work.”   It caused us both to pause and think about what it means to “not work.”  That very human expression reveals an unspoken expectation. Not only do I enjoy the consolation that is felt in a prayer practice, but I come to expect it as confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. Perhaps I also see it as confirmation that God is listening, that God is there with me. We laughed as we recognized the implications. How could God ever not be there?? Does wanting a felt sense that my practice “is working” mean that I think it's about what I do rather than what God does??  We also talked about the seasons of our lives and the winters when we cannot see the work that is taking place. That is often the deepest work. Sometimes God’s deepest work in me is happening when I can’t “feel it.” When I cannot rely on my expectations and my felt sense, I can then be open to ask if God is inviting me to a different form of prayer, or am I being invited to show up and trust God’s work in me even when the results are not apparent?
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   
  
March 27, 2025 - Celebrating Jubilee
I wrote a reflection on the Jubilee last fall… Normally, I try not to repeat a theme, but the recent materials from our diocese stimulated my thinking and how I might celebrate the Jubilee Year. As I shared before, the Jubilee is something I learned about as a young adult. In Leviticus, every 50 years God's people redistributed land, forgave debts, and set slaves free. It was a form of rebalancing the scales, grounded in an understanding of God's justice. For me, these historical roots are important. In the Jubilee Prayer we ask:  May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth…  How can I cooperate to cultivate God’s transforming seeds?  Perhaps my pilgrimage visits will include soup kitchens and homeless shelters…  I want to be aware and attentive to the 9.2 percent of the world that lives in extreme poverty and the one out of every 69 people in the world who are displaced refugees. How can I find ways to redistribute the things I have accumulated over the last 50 years that I have been privileged to be an educated American, with access to resources, in a house that I own, at a time of relative peace?  Loving God of justice, may your grace transform me.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   

March 28,  2025 - The Prodigal Son 
This coming Sunday we will hear the parable of the “Prodigal Son” from Luke 15.  For the next three days, I would like to reflect on this story through a practice called praying with the imagination in which we put ourselves into the scripture story and image what it is like to be there, to be one of the characters. This practice gives me three different lenses to look at Luke 15. 
First, I want to look at the typical focus of the story, the younger son who squanders his inheritance and returns home penniless and penitent. I think about how often “I waste my inheritance.” When have I been unaware of being created in God’s image, being baptized into God’s family as a daughter?  How hard it is to keep that perspective throughout my daily life!  
It also raises questions for me such as, what does it mean as a human being to hit bottom? How often is this the beginning of possibility and transformation?? Perhaps the younger son is one who has lived, faced his shadows, and come to a deeper understanding of the meaning of life. He realizes our interconnectedness with God and each other. He returns home to God the Father and home to his authentic sense of self as unconditionally loved. The story doesn’t tell us what he does next, but if I were to guess, I would say he is the son most likely to imitate his father in the years to come.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   
  
March 29, 2025 - My Older Brother Complex
The older brother in the parable I imagine to be ungrateful and petty. He’s a score keeper who makes sure he gets what he thinks is his. What part of me is still invested in earning approval, status, and getting what I think I deserve?  In some ways, the older brother represents the human being working the system, expecting appropriately “earned” rewards for hard work and good behavior.  He is very transactional.  I realize he represents many of our cultural values.  I was raised with a strong work ethic and a belief that hard work should pay off.…And while these qualities are not all bad, I know that I can easily slip into a critique of those who have not succeeded by my standards. Are there people I unconsciously perceive as weaker, less capable, less worthy?  I need to be on the lookout for my older brother complex that is ready to surface.  Those might be cultural values, but they are not God’s values.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   
 
March 30, 2025 - Our Prodigal God
Prodigal: “recklessly wasteful, extravagant; giving lavishly and foolishly.” I heard the perspective that it is God who is “prodigal” in a homily before Timothy Keller wrote, The Prodigal God. God’s love and grace are not measured out for the deserving, but freely given, wastefully and extravagantly. For this I am deeply grateful.  It’s hard to imagine myself as the father in Luke’s story. I confess that I am usually a measurer of outcomes, a holder of expectations, a scorekeeper.  But, as the Body of Christ, I/we are called to be the father in the story.  Have I ever shown unconditional love?  There were times when I embodied a bit of the father’s lavish love with my own children as they were learning to make decisions for themselves… We were there to support them when they tried out their “younger son” independence.  There were times when I realized that only love matters.
The thing that I find particularly meaningful about the father’s behavior in Luke is that he meets the younger son on the road.  He does not wait for him to make his confession.  He meets him with love, welcome and acceptance before.   The father runs to the son “while he is still a long way off…embraces him and kisses him.”  And then he provides not what the son thinks he deserves, but a beautiful, wasteful celebration of love. God, help me, at least once in a while, to have the grace and the courage to do likewise. 
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio   

March 17, 2025—Community Fruit
One day last month, my daughter came home from a walk through the neighborhood with two grapefruits. She carried them for over a mile because she knew I liked grapefruit. In this season there are often boxes of lemons or grapefruit with “FREE” handwritten on the box. There is even one home that has a beautiful, professionally printed sign inviting neighbors to pick fruit off the trees. And yet another neighbor who has mint and oregano growing on the street side of his fence. He leaves a pair of scissors attached to a long string so that we make take freely what we need.
I think about what this sharing of God’s creation and abundance means in this world. In a culture of “me” this small gesture is a gift to others—to neighbors they love and neighbors they have never met. This community fruit is a sign that we are caring for one another and sharing the gifts that God has given us.                                                                         Erin Gallawa
 
March 18, 2025—Weed Barriers
If there is one thing I have learned about weed barriers, it is that they don’t work.
Oh, sure, they keep weeds from growing for the first season or two. But like the famous line from Jurassic Park, “Nature finds a way.” I watched as a house in our neighborhood pulled up all of their landscaping and replaced it with rock over weed barrier. It looked amazing for just one year before weeds started popping through.
How often do I feel that my  faith is impenetrable? Do I feel like I am  strong against sin? The Church and our faith community offer me so many ways to guard against this. I can attend Mass, go to Reconciliation, study the Bible and pray daily. I can choose to surround myself with other believers. But without careful tending and maintenance, doubt and sin will start to push through.
May we guard our hearts to keep out the weeds of sin!
Erin Gallawa
  
March 19, 2025—Google Maps
Sometimes knowing more is more disappointing than knowing less. I remember that in the early days of Google Maps, the instructions might tell you that your destination was 47 minutes away. As a serially late person, I accepted the time estimate as a challenge. I would find a way to turn 47 minutes into 43 minutes! But these days the technology has gotten too good. The estimated time of arrival changes now to reflect current traffic. Sure, it is theoretically better to know exactly when I will get there, but the mystery and the challenge is gone.
There are a lot of things about the Church and the Trinity that I cannot explain… and that is what we call mystery. The mystery of the church keeps me humble, reminding me that only God knows all and that I cannot shortcut or speed my way up to getting to God sooner. There is no estimated time of arrival with our faith—we must trust in the map that God has laid out before us and believe that we will arrive exactly in the time that he wants us to!
Erin Gallawa
 
March 20, 2025—Daylight Savings Time
I am an outspoken hater of Daylight Savings Time. In fact, I call it Daylight Stealing Time. As someone who spends so much time running and hiking before 7am, I love my morning light. But every March, daylight is stolen from me when we push the daylight hour to the evening. This year was no exception, and I was grumpy about the change.
I went to mass alone that first evening in DST two weeks ago. When I walked out of the church, I was greeted by a beautiful evening with soft light and children playing under the bell tower. It was a moment for me to practice gratitude—gratitude for the changing of the light that allowed for a beautiful late winter evening to be a source of joy. And while I will miss the morning light for the next few weeks, today I choose to be grateful for what the evening light has afforded me.
Erin Gallawa
 
March 21, 2025—First Name
You may notice that the majority of our most known and beloved Bible characters are called by their first names only. No one has ever questioned if Moses or David or John had a last name! And yet they do not need a last name, for there is no question of whom we are speaking when we discuss them by name.
Over the last two decades my phone contacts list has been filled with names—with friends, acquaintances, employees, professional contacts and more. There are probably hundreds in my phone! But every once in a while, I am surprised to find a contact in my phone that has only a first name. My immediate family, for example. But they aren’t the only ones. There are the friends I have had since the beginning of cell phones—back when I didn’t call enough Stephanies to need to distinguish between them. It is an intimacy, almost, to not need another identifier to recognize someone you love.
Like the Bible characters who need no last name, I am grateful for the friends and family who don’t need a second name to be known.
Erin Gallawa
 
March 22, 2025—Retreat
My daughter just returned from her Confirmation retreat at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Applegate. As I was driving on the road to pick her up, I was flooded with memories of the many retreats I have attended there. The first was a retreat in high school, then my Cursillo in 2005. I returned there as a leader for many retreats when I was a Catholic high school teacher. The last time I was there was for an RCIA retreat probably a decade ago. And now my daughter had the privilege of walking those same grounds and praying in those same sacred spaces.
While each retreat is unique and every individual has their own experience, there is something powerful about the connection of a holy place like that. For decades, that retreat center has celebrated with men and women exploring their Catholic faith. What a gift it is for the Spirit to live on through the holy men and women who have retreated there!
Erin Gallawa
 
March 23, 2025—The Desert
During the season of Lent we are often called to reflect on Jesus’ time in the desert and our own calling to the spiritual desert as we prepare for Easter. Growing up, I always imagined that the desert must be destitute and devoid of anything beautiful. I could see only sand, heat and suffering.
In the last decade I have had the opportunity to visit the Palm Desert area many times. My understanding of the desert is so different now. First, the desert is full of life! There are so many beautiful plants that thrive in this climate. There are animals that have adapted to living in these stark places. Second, the desert can be a place of reprieve. People leave their homes in the cold and snow to seek refuge in the mild winters and spring of the desert. The desert is not a place to avoid—it is a place to embrace.
It is true that life in the desert is not easy. But Jesus does not invite us to the desert because it is easy. In this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, may we accept the invitation to the desert and remember that there is beauty in the desolation.
Erin Gallawa

March10, 2025 – Let Me Decrease

There is a song by Thomas Muglia called “Let Me Decrease”. It is inspired by a passage from John 3:30 that says: “He must increase; I must decrease.” One of the lines in the song is: “No other cause for which I live.” I was affected the first time I heard that line. My family, work, charities, and ministries are all important, but not more important than my love for God. No other cause is greater than building His kingdom on earth. I know that all the things I have are not mine but God’s, and I must surrender it all to Him. I wish I could say I always surrender my will to His, but I fail often. Thank God that he loves me with all my imperfections, which allows me to pick myself up and move forward in building His kingdom; it is what the Christian life is all about. I pray, Lord, that I decrease so that you increase in me.

Kurt Peterson

March 11, 2025 – Purging

As a Realtor I help people prepare i making their next move. So often the sellers can get overwhelmed with the number of things that they have accumulated over the years. And they must decide if the item will work in their new home. Will it be too small or too large for the new area? Will it work with the style of the new home? So, the purging begins. Lent is a lot like moving. It is a time to reflect on my life, to look inside to see all the emotional things that I have gathered in my life. Many times, the things I have won’t fit in the new spiritual direction I am being called to. So, I must purge myself of those things that keep me from feeling God’s full presence in my life. It will be tough sometimes, but I will live a freer life. \Kurt Peterson

March 12, 2025 – Why Do Catholics Have the Crucifix?

Do you ever wonder why we Catholics have the Crucifix? The Crucifix is different from a cross. The cross alone represents the idea that Jesus is no longer there. He did not stay on the cross. The Crucifix symbolizes His sacrifice for us all. In our church, we have the Crucifix placed by the altar and the Risen Christ in the back of the Tabernacle. For me, each is in the right place. At the altar, the priest celebrates the sacrifice of Jesus, and we become part of it by receiving the Body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Then, through our faith, Jesus calls us to everlasting life.

One definition of resurrection is to bring back into use or existence something that had disappeared or ended. That is what God did for me. He brought me back from sin to be used for His glory.

Kurt Peterson

March 13, 2025 – Silence

I have always liked listening to music or a podcast while I work. I used to feel silence was distracting for me. Now that I am older, I am beginning to embrace silence, mainly when I write my reflections. Silence helps my thoughts about what to write. I realize that the background noise I liked before now distracts me from feeling God’s presence. I find I receive greater inspiration when there is only me, my thoughts, and the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding me in my writing. Being silent allows me to hear what the Spirit wants me to hear, not what I want to hear. 

Kurt Peterson

March 14, 2025 – Daylight Savings

I am tired of Daylight Savings Time. It is “Spring Forward” where we turn the clock ahead one hour. So, when I say I am tired of it, I mean emotionally and physically. In our household we get up early and when that comes an hour earlier, I am like a zombie for a few days. Now to be fully transparent we turn in our reflections a week ahead of when they are published, so the change has not occurred yet as I am writing this; however, this time I have decided to use the change to daylight savings as a Lenten sacrifice. I plan not to be in a sleep fog but to accept it with joy and see how I can use it to His glory. Hopefully as you read this, I ammm ZZZZZ. Ugh sorry, I nodded off. 

Kurt Peterson

March 15, 2025 – Legacy

Last weekend, our oldest granddaughter went to her confirmation retreat. She is a beautiful young lady with great poise and a loving heart. We love watching her grow up, but more importantly, we love her faith in God and her love for the lord. The most important thing I have is my faith; being able to pass that down to my children and grandchildren is my legacy. There is nothing that I can do that will be more meaningful than sharing my love and faith in this life. Whether it is my family, community, or strangers, having them come to Jesus is my legacy. 

Kurt Peterson

March 16, 2027 – Sun

We have had a very cold February. There were over 11 days of below-average temperatures. A couple of weeks ago, we had a couple of sunny days in the high 60s. The sun just warmed everything up, giving us a glimpse of Spring. Then we were back to cloudy, cold days again. The thing about an overcast day is the Sun is still there, just hidden from us. It makes me think about the Son, Jesus: when He is shining in me, it warms me, but then the storms of life can come and stand between me and Jesus. I can feel cold inside when I forget that God is still there. But then I realize He never left; He is just behind the clouds, and when I can break through the clouds, His warmth will shine again through His love. Lord, help remind me that amid the storm, you are there.

 Kurt Peterson

March 3, 2025 - Everybody Has a Place, Everybody Belongs
I’m fortunate to be able to sit in the Sanctuary once a month and get a very different perspective on the congregation from when I sit with the congregation with a limited view of those around me.  When I look out upon the entire church, I recognize people I know and I see them mainly sitting in the same general area, and sometimes the exact same pew.  Actually, that goes for people I don’t know but recognize because they sit in their same place too.   Then there are the “visitors” who wonder where to sit and the ushers are quick to guide them.  In the past I, along with other homilists, have encouraged us to try switching places once in a while but, of course, we all, myself included, tend to follow old habits and do what makes us comfortable.  Saints Peter and Paul is known throughout the Diocese as a welcoming congregation because we not only make room for someone looking for a place to sit but we also have the weekly opportunity to greet one another and newcomers.  All of this makes me proud and happy to be a part of SSPP because I have found my place and I belong to this worshipping community with Jesus as our center and our shepherd who welcomes everyone.     Deacon David
 
March 4, 202 - What’ll You Give Up?
Quick, let’s have all the stuff we can’t enjoy during Lent when we must fast and abstain!  Dad won’t have his beer, Mom won’t have her ice cream, Junior won’t have his Snickers bar and Princess won’t have her candy stash from last Halloween.  But, wait a minute, what are you telling me…that’s the old way of thinking about Lent?  Actually, “giving up” something to remind ourselves just how much we consume is ok but not necessary; it is also important to remember that the spirit of Lent is to live as Jesus lived:   serving the poor, the sick and the forgotten.  I am called upon to emulate Jesus by using the time, talent and treasure given me by God’s grace.  During Lent I’m asked to recognize that there are “poor” in our community, poor economically and spiritually and think about what I can do to alleviate or improve that condition…and then do it.  God has gifted me with faith, and through baptism, instructs me to share it in whatever way I can.  But I can’t forget that one thing Jesus did all the time was to pray.  He gained strength and direction through his conversations with God the Father just as I am able to do IF I follow Jesus’ example. These 40 days will pass quickly, even quicker if I fill them with the direction to pray, give alms and serve the poor and remember that after Lent that Jesus didn’t stop living what he preached until the day he died.                                                                                                                                                                           Deacon David
 
March 5, 2025 - Ashes
Ash Wednesday this year reminds me not only of my own mortality but also brings to mind the destruction of multiple swathes of burned out areas in California which claimed the lives of many people and animals to say nothing of homes, businesses and irreplaceable contents of those structures.   So the reception of a smudge of ashes on my forehead resounds through my entire being thinking of not only fire victims but also of many people whose lives have been virtually consumed by the unchristian acts of being removed and deprived of their homes, their livelihoods, their hopes and dreams.  Today, throughout Lent and through the glory and promise of Easter I plan to remember the gift of ashes so that I will not forget how Christ lived and worked, a person of poverty in exile from his home, fleeing political persecution and threat of death and relying on the goodness of others to live.  In his life Jesus spoke out against injustice despite the known threat of punishment and death.  Jesus lived and ministered to all of them, the powerful and the poor and persecuted.  Can I do less, a professed and baptized Christian?  Pray for those who live in the ashes of ruined lives and pray for one another that we do what Christ modelled for us.  Deacon David
 
 
March 6, 2025  - What’s Your Favorite?
Jane and I have our favorite Mass time, but we also try to keep tabs on what goes on in the other three masses by going to them occasionally.  I think, from what I’ve observed, that most of our congregation also prefer one mass over the others for various reasons such as the type of music, the “vibe” of the gathering, comfort with others who attend the same mass regularly or the time of day.  I am happy to see who; older, younger, ethnicity, etc. tend to gather in one area or another (latecomers at any mass tend towards the side exits).   Most masses, except when it’s raining hard, are fairly well attended, Super Bowl Sunday 5pm mass excepted/cancelled.   It makes me happy, and has made me happy through four Pastors, to see that the SSPP congregation has taken to heart that SSPP belongs to the people of the parish and the parish depends on each of us to do our part in maintaining the vibrant, welcoming, co-operative maintenance of the ministries and programs offered.  So no matter which mass we attend we are all here to worship Jesus, aided and encouraged by one another offering our time, talent and treasure to build up the Body of Christ.               Deacon David
 
 
March 7, 2025 - Yet Another Reminder
Meatless Fridays during Lent remind me of the three years we spent as Lay Missionaries in rural Kenya where we had a very limited income, but managed to have meat on the table most days of the week.  The native people with whom we lived and worked didn’t have the economic ability to have meat with any regularity, perhaps once a month, if that often.  They subsisted on vegetables which were grown locally and a ground maize porridge called “ugali”.  It would have been no problem for them to “give up” meat on Fridays and, as well, to “fast” because they existed on very little to begin with.  In the 50+ years since we returned to the U.S.A. that memory has faded but fasting and abstinence during Lent still remind me of the great poverty which exists not only in parts of Africa and the wider world, but also here, in the most economically gifted nation on earth.  Jesus advocated serving the poor and needy without respect to race or creed, as does the Church and many other organizations. Our taxes are paid, in part, to do what these organizations are unable or unwilling to do. How would Jesus respond to this situation?  I think he would confront those who do not think that helping fellow humans is important and in fact think that it is unnecessary.  During Lent and beyond, I must do what I am can to alleviate this injustice.  Pray for them and pray for me that I will do what I am able.                                                           Deacon David
 
 
March 8, 2025 - Words of Wisdom
I began my career in the California Department of Corrections in 1974 as a Correctional Counselor in a drug treatment facility.  Although it was a job, I took it also as ministry of visiting the imprisoned because I was given the opportunity to set up and run “programs” to help those who would be released gain basic social and life skills.   I was aided by career correctional personnel who had far greater insights and knowledge than I had.  I also found that the residents themselves were eager to guide me, some for their own benefit inside but also some who wanted to learn and change.  Some of the helpful residents imparted bits of wisdom about how to deal with life both inside.  One of those bits was useful for anyone: “…walk slow and drink a lot of water.”   What???  Time is different for everyone, and prisoners have no reason to rush. Instead, they have to deal with boredom and a lack of free movement; thus, walk slow, think/meditate, stay hydrated and help the time pass.  There are many types of imprisonment other than incarceration which we are called upon to “visit” such as home bound people with illnesses or who have limited means of leaving their homes to shop or get medical care.  They have little choice but to walk slowly and may have no other beverage choice than water.  A lesson learned from felons points me to continuing the continuing need to visit the confined. They are the other faces of our Lord Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                       Deacon David
 
March 9, 2025 - Temptation
When I first came to the Church, having never even heard the words “fasting” and “abstinence”, it was quite a shock to learn from observant Catholics (Jane’s family} that pre-Vatican II norms for all weekdays, Monday through Saturday, required fasting and that meant Saturday night until midnight. When Sunday came: no fasting.  Saturday was date night and we were “good” but at 12:01am Sunday the chocolate malts from Bob’s Big Boy broke our fasting.  Looking back, I’d conformed to the letter of the law but I lacked the understanding and spirit of the law.  Over the years Jane and I have grown in our efforts to understand fasting more broadly than consumption of food and now attempt to moderate activities such as watching TV, eating meat daily or complaining about other people.   Practicing those small efforts of abstinence during Lent will, I hope, be an incentive to continue with the spirit of the season through the year.  Jesus lived simply, praying often, fasting. In doing so, he showed his disciples how those disciplines prepared him for his life of service.  We are his disciples and are called to follow him.   Practice makes perfect.

 Deacon David

February 24, 2025- How You Do Anything 

Perhaps you've heard the phrase, "How you do anything is how you do everything". It's often used in business to evaluate employee performance. I heard a great story about an employer who takes his prospective employees out to lunch to see how he or she treats the waiters and others in the restaurant. If that potential employee is dismissive or rude, then it gives the employer a good idea of how that person will treat co-workers or clients in the workplace. This caused me to wonder. How consistent am I? Do I treat strangers with the same kindness as I show to my family and friends? Am I as generous to others as I am to those closest to me? It could also relate to prayer. If I'm a bit lazy or take shortcuts in some parts of my life, am I also shortchanging my prayer life?

Lord, help us to consistently demonstrate the best version of ourselves. 

Darcy Wharton 

February 25, 2025- An Eggless Omelet

 In a recent conversation with Fr. Renier, I discussed how difficult it must be to preach the gospel and how important it is to make it relevant to the issues of today. He very quickly said, "If it's not pertaining to what is going on around us, it's like serving an omelet with no eggs!" Sometimes it's tempting to want to hear a homily that is peaceful or soothing, but just like an eggless omelet, it won't get me very far. Someone once told me that if the gospel doesn't make me uncomfortable, then I'm not listening! It's so much easier to ignore or even resist being challenged by the words of Jesus, especially if they might take me out of my comfort zone. 

Lord, help me be more willing to hear uncomfortable or challenging words in the Sunday gospel and allow those words to change the world around us.

Darcy Wharton

 February 26, 2025- Purgatory 

Many Catholics have shared with me that they struggle with the idea of purgatory- or just simply don't understand it. I thought that Fr. Brendan did a great job of explaining purgatory as a "purification process" in which we prepare to enter heaven fully. He admitted that we don't know how long this process takes because God has a different way of viewing time than we do. He also mentioned that no one can enter heaven with unforgiveness on their heart. We need to be able to forgive fully before entering heaven. He posed a challenging question to us which was "Why not forgive now and save time in purgatory?" We are likely not going to be able to forget the hurts that others have caused, but forgiveness allows us to live more freely and happily on earth.

Loving God, help me forgive anyone who has hurt me, so that now and at the hour of my death I can more quickly feel your loving presence. 

Darcy Wharton

 February 27, 2025- Welcome the Stranger

 When we hear the phrase "welcome the stranger" we might think of the recent emphasis on immigration. However, in my life, it has an additional meaning. You may remember that I am adopted and 25 years ago I met my birthmother and my siblings on her side, and about 8 years ago I met my birthfather and my siblings on his side. In both cases, I was initially a "stranger" to these families. I am still amazed at how generously both families welcomed me. Of course, there have been occasional moments of awkwardness as I learned the histories and names (SO many names) of family members, but we laugh and move on. Recently, my birthfather died and once again I found myself spending time with a family in which I was once a stranger. In moments like these, I realize that being part of a family, whether it's a family formed by blood or simply by love, is a treasured gift from God. How might we treat one another if we truly saw each other as part of our family? 

Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ has taught that we need to work on expanding our circle, so that eventually the margins of "who is in and who is out" disappear and no one is outside the circle of our love. 

Darcy Wharton

February 28, 2025- The Important Things 

With two recent deaths in my family, and with the recent parish retreat with Fr. Brendan McGuire, I've had some time to reflect more on the meaning of life and how important it is to focus on the important things. Both my sister and my birthfather were diagnosed with different forms of cancer. When they were diagnosed, they went through the various stages of grief, but they also became more laser-focused on what was most important to them. For each, it was spending as much time as they could with those they loved. Having a cancer diagnosis allowed them time to communicate their last wishes to the family and to face death with a sense of peace. Each moment spent with them was filled with deep honesty and tenderness. As Fr. Brendan suggested, perhaps we can focus on learning to live well, so that we can also die well.

 Darcy Wharton

 March 1, 2025- A Clean Home 

Have you ever thought about the fact that when we come to church every weekend it's always clean? Most of us haven't been a part of making it happen, but rotating teams of volunteers arrive early on a Saturday morning to dust, vacuum, and wash every interior part of our church. To me this is a great example of some wonderful behind-the-scenes angels that contribute to the life of our parish. When asked about it, those involved express joy at being able to help the church in their own way. They are always looking for more people to volunteer, so if cleaning gives you deep satisfaction, reach out! There are so many ways to support our parish community and I am grateful for all the ways our parish's volunteer spirit shines brightly. 

Darcy Wharton 

March 2, 2025- The Log and the Splinter 

When my girls were teens, they would catch me in moments of hypocrisy. (Don't you love teenagers?) I remember feeling a bit of a gut-punch when I realized they were correct. I suppose we are all hypocrites at times but having someone point it out to us is hard to hear. Jesus was as honest as a teenager when he said, "You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye." These words always catch me. It is SO much easier to see how others are doing it all wrong or not living up to their potential. Apparently, this can be even more common when we see ourselves as faithful to the Gospel. How is it I can be so blind (not noticing the log in my own eye) and so disparaging of others when all they have is a splinter in their eye? Loving God, help me take an honest yet compassionate look at myself, especially when I am becoming judgmental. 

Darcy Wharton

February 17, 2025 – Yoo Hoo!
 
As a child fishing on the Blackfoot River with my grandpa, we would hear my grandmother call out, “Yoo Hoo!” from downstream.  It was a long, loud and guttural call…yet somehow remained “sing-songy” and gentle…alerting us to come home for root beer floats. 
 
This is pretty indicative of who my grandmother was: firm, but gentle and loving.  She would call us to task, and then hold us and embrace us just as we were.   At her funeral a few years ago, as we were burying her ashes, my uncle let out a loud and grief-stricken “Yoo-Hoo!” at the top of his lungs.  It pierced through the silence and we knew she heard us from heaven calling out to her.
 
I think God calls us in this way too – with a resolute and loving “Yoo Hoo!” to come as we are and follow Him. 
-Katie Maynard
 
 February 18, 2025 – The Kitchen Table
 
Growing up, our family’s kitchen table was a simple round oak table, with matching oak chairs.  I can still feel the knots in the wood grain, and the latches underneath the table for the leaf extension.  I remember laying underneath the table and seeing the stamp of the manufacturer burned into the wood.  Our table was sacred and holy, but it wasn’t about the look and feel of the wood…it was the actions that took place around the table.  We ate dinner almost every night there as a family: praying grace together, sharing our day, making decisions, laughing together and comforting each other.
 
As we read in Acts 2:44-47, the early church gathered in each other’s home, sharing all things in common, broke bread and ate their meals with exaltation and sincerity of heart…praising God in fellowship with one another.  It is simple, but this is how we are called to gather as church: both in the sanctuary and in our homes. 
 
Now, my very own family gathers in this way around our own round wooden table, painted black.  Called, and gathered…we come to your feast.
-Katie Maynard
 
 February 19, 2025 – Open My Eyes Lord
 
In today’s gospel we read about Jesus healing the blind man at Bethsaida.  Jesus creates a sort of healing balm out of his own spit and restores sight to the man.   At first the man can only see vague shapes moving around in the distance until he finally can see the people in front of him.  
 
I remember traveling with students to Chiapas, Mexico for a service immersion trip to encounter rural poverty and work among the campesino farmers to build schools for their villages.  Outside of the capital city of San Cristobal, we found ourselves in small villages where the people welcomed us with kindness into their homes, the children played soccer with us and we learned about their struggle to maintain connection to their land.  
 
In a globalized world, we have the opportunity to share ideas, goods and services across borders, but we are also called to responsibility with that sharing: to listen to one another and learn.  It can be all too easy to see someone as “other” and yet my prayer is that I can see beyond vague shapes to discover the complexity in all things…to have my sight restored.
-Katie Maynard
 
 February 20, 2025 – Who Do You Say That I Am?                                                      
 
When passing cars on the road, my daughters often ask why we don’t have any bumper stickers or window stickers on our car.  To be fair, we do have our SSPP license plate frame and my husband has his Optimus Prime transformer hanging from the rearview mirror.  My response to them though, usually involves a conversation about how we define ourselves.   When we see those stickers, it communicates something about the person in the car.  Whether we like it or not, and regardless of our attempts not to judge - first impressions are a reality.
 
In today’s gospel we hear the dialogue between Jesus and his disciples when he asks, “Who do you say that I am?”  His disciples have various responses but Simon Peter exclaims, “You are the Christ.”  Jesus was clear about what he was communicating about his person and purpose here among us – God’s Son sent as gift of love for our salvation.  
 
And so how do I communicate with similar clarity my path of discipleship?  It’s true there are so many stickers that could represent our faith in Christ, and yet I’m reminded of the hymn, “they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”   I’m not ruling out a sticker for myself one day, but I suppose more important than a sticker, is to show who we are by how we love.   
-Katie Maynard
 
February 21, 2025 – Overflow in Me, My Lord
 
Monday nights are a busy work night for me as the Coordinator of Christian Initiation here at our parish.  A few weeks ago, while staging and setting up for the evening, I was quickly thrown into meetings and I started worrying about whether I had taken care of everything.  I thought to myself, “Oh no, I forgot to fill the water pitchers on the table in the lobby.”   But I was able to set my scattered worries aside and be present to what was in front of me.  After the meeting I walked out into the lobby and saw that someone had filled the pitchers for me.  
 
It seems like such a small thing, but it meant so much to me…someone saw the need and didn’t just pass by.  They took the time to fill the pitchers knowing that it would take something off of my plate and provide refreshment for our participants.   
 
How we “show up” for one another matters – God’s love overflowing through us.
-Katie Maynard
 
  
February 22, 2025 – Upon This Rock
 
Rocks are a thing for our family…growing up visiting Montana and the river, we have always been in awe of the beauty of the river rock, with varied colors from the different minerals and made smooth by the water’s current.  My husband and children can’t help themselves and take a bucket full of river rocks home with us from our travels, hoping that we can capture that same beauty in our own backyard.  
 
This past summer when traveling to Olympic National Park, we were confronted with a different kind of beauty:   hiking through a temperate rainforest ecosystem.   The trees and rocks were covered in moss and it felt as though we were walking through a fairytale.  We also saw the most incredible cliffs and boulders of the vast mountain ranges, which left us feeling so small amidst their grandeur.
 
In today’s gospel we hear “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church” and I immediately wondered what that load felt like for Peter.  It’s a huge mantle of responsibility, but perhaps being a rock doesn’t have to merely connotate strength and sturdiness.  As we are called to continue the work of Peter in building the church, perhaps we can embody the layered, colorful and even moss-gathered stones that have inspired us so much.
-Katie Maynard
 
 
February 23, 2025 – Refuge
 
In today’s gospel we hear Jesus’ challenge to love our enemies, and it is a reminder that the path of Christian discipleship is not an easy road.  Ours is not a faith of convenience or comfort – it is about radical and sacrificial love.   
 
I hear a lot of harsh rhetoric in the news today – words of hatred, scapegoating, and “othering.”  And yet Jesus called people out from hiding on the margins to be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven on earth as it is in heaven.  The word “refuge” has been on my mind lately…a word meaning “shelter, or a safe dwelling place.”  As I think about my own call to discipleship, how can I be refuge…a safe dwelling place…to others: in my home, in my work, in my church, in my community and in this world?
Who is God inviting me to love with a steady and sacrificial love?
 
“…for the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
-Katie Maynard