30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal.” Once in adoration, as I was adoring and beholding the Lord, loving him and setting my gaze upon him who had already penetrated my heart and soul with his awesome gaze, I was struck by the image of the Eucharist being consumed by God’s love. It was covered in the flames of God’s eternal love and filled with the glory of his radiance and light. In spiritual communion, I contemplated receiving this precious gift as a seed and allowed it to be planted and cultivated deep inside of me. I imagined the everlasting river of God’s love flowing in me, watering the seed, nurturing it and caring for it.  I prayed that God would allow it to grow in me, to take root in me so the Light of Christ given to me in baptism will continue to burn brightly in me producing good and wholesome fruit that is pleasing to the Father.  The Lord helped me to see that the more I allow God to consume me in his love, the deeper the Holy Spirit could penetrate the core of my essence and being. The more I am willing to burn with the Father’s love, the more my true identity as beloved son can arise from the unquenchable fire and the better I can offer myself as gift and sacrifice. This was not always so. For once, I was lost and now, I have been found. Once I was blind but with the help of God’s grace now, I see.  Although I was given spiritual sight at baptism, sin dulled the light and I walked in darkness, lost and empty. Unfortunately, the human condition is plagued by sin and temptation.  We search for happiness in the wrong places.  We look for something other than the source of goodness and holiness to refresh us and make us truly happy.  We look to other things to bring us joy and happiness only to discover they leave us empty, still longing, still searching.  Thanks be to God, he desires to refresh us by quenching our hunger and thirst with his love and presence.  He desires to cleanse us, to purify our minds, and to cleanse our hearts.  God desires to free our souls so the river of his love can once again flow freely in us through his grace and Holy Communion.  Therefore, put yourself in a place where God can find you and then let him love you there.

 

Reflections from the Heart – July 23, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - July 23, 2023
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 16, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - July 16, 2023
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 9, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - July 9, 2023
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 2, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - July 2, 2023
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 25, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - June 25, 2023
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Lord, in your great love, answer me.”  Perhaps one of the most ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 18, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - June 18, 2023
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “God proves his love for us in that while we were still ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 11, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - June 11, 2023
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Do not forget the LORD, your ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 4, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - June 4, 2023
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinityby Fr. Ivan Olmo “If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 28, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - May 28, 2023
Pentecost Sundayby Fr. Ivan Olmo “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”  God speaks ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 21, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - November 21, 2023
The Ascension of the Lordby Fr. Ivan Olmo “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 14, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - May 14, 2023
Sixth Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness!”  When ...

Reflections from the Heart – May 7, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - May 7, 2023
Fifth Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have ...