Browsing Thoughts from Fr. Bob
Pentecost - May 19, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 5/16/24
On this day of Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit into our world to stay with us always. Three months ago we began our journey from death to new life, from Lent to Easter, from winter to spring, from darkness to light. It is a journey ... Read More »
7th Sunday of Easter - May 12, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 5/08/24
Last Thursday, May 9, we marked forty days after the Resurrection. That Holy Day was transferred to this Sunday, the Seventh Sunday of Easter. With our Lord’s mission accomplished, and having appeared to his disciples to show them that he had been raised from the dead, Jesus prepared to ... Read More »
6th Sunday of Easter - May 5, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 5/01/24
We continue to celebrate the Easter season, glorying in the resurrection of our Lord, who has promised to remain with us always. Jesus is with us in our waking and our sleeping, in our joys and our sufferings, in our homes and our communities. In a special way the ... Read More »
5th Sunday of Easter - April 28, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 5/01/24
“I am the vine. You are the branches,” we hear Jesus tell his disciples in today’s Gospel. We are those branches now. Connected to the vine that is the Lord, we are expected to bear fruit.
Visualize your family tree. Perhaps your grandparents or great-grandparents are the trunk of ... Read More »
4th Sunday of Easter - April 21, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 4/18/24
Today we are reminded that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, committed to caring for his sheep through every danger, difficulty, and trauma. He told his disciples that he would lay down his life for his sheep. Indeed, this is really what he did. By laying down his life for ... Read More »
Divine Mercy - April 7, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 4/09/24
Still rejoicing in the glory of Easter, today we celebrate God’s unparalleled mercy. Out of mercy for all of us, Jesus died on the cross, atoning for our sins, past, present, and future. Out of mercy for those whose faith is weak or doubt is strong, Jesus comes to ... Read More »
Easter - March 31, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 3/25/24
Today we gather in joy to celebrate the holiest and most wonderful of days, Easter. Jesus, who sacrificed his life on behalf of us all, has been raised from the dead. Alleluia! This is the day that gives meaning to Jesus’ suffering and death, and in turn to our ... Read More »
Palm Sunday - March 24, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 3/19/24
We begin our celebration of Holy Week by calling down God’s blessing upon the symbol that today’s feast is named for, the palms that were used to welcome our Lord to Jerusalem. “Hosanna!” the crowds cried out, praising the Son of Man as he rode into the holy city. ... Read More »
Lent 5 - March 17, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 3/12/24
It’s hard to believe that Holy Week is just around the corner, and so we hear Jesus in the Gospel talk about his fast approaching death. Yet his message to his disciples is not so much about his death as it is about eternal life.
In our first reading ... Read More »
Lent 4 - March 10, 2024
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 3/12/24
It’s hard to believe that Lent is half over. This Sunday is called Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday. In joy we anticipate the unparalleled love, mercy, and peace that the risen Lord gives to us at Easter. God’s unconditional love for the world was so great that He sends Jesus, His ... Read More »