29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“Jesus told his disciples to pray always without becoming weary.” Are you a follower of Jesus? Are you a faithful follower? Do you follow him with a sense of abandonment, surrender and obedience? Can you follow him without a sense of materialism, division or regret? Jesus is the one we follow. He is the whole truth, the only truth and nothing but the real truth of how much God truly loves you. Are you willing to follow Jesus with a renewed sense of urgency, importance and to value the One who is your life, the sacred breath in your heart, the true food you eat and the blessing cup you drink? Following Jesus means being obedient to God and faithful to his will. Following Jesus means denying yourself, giving up control, and remaining silent in the midst of persecution. It means hating sin but loving the sinner. Following Jesus means nurturing intimacy with God through prayer and preferring prayer over television, food, social media. A faithful follower of Jesus recognizes, understands and accepts that prayer is not optional but just as necessary as the oxygen we breathe and the nutrients we take in for prayer satisfies the hungry soul and nourishes the faithful heart. Prayer is being involved in the life of Jesus. Prayer is participating in divine grace. Prayer is experiencing the loving presence of God. In prayer, God communicates his very self, he touches the depth of our being, he provides words that are encouraging, inspiring, correcting. To not pray, is to reject God and all he has to offer. To say you are too busy to pray, is to prefer something else over God. To not want to pray, is to not want God, to refuse his gifts, to suggest you can live without God and presumes your relationship with him. To not pray, is to not know God and how can anyone love and serve the God they do not know? When Jesus was tired and weary, he prayed with the Father. When he was discerning God’s will or was faced with a difficult or important decision, he went to be with the Father in prayer. When he was in agony, he prayed. When he expressed joy and thanksgiving, he prayed. He taught his disciples to pray and they taught us the importance of maintaining a relationship with God in prayer. Mary teaches us to turn to Jesus in every situation and circumstance and ask him for what we need in prayer. Therefore, be a faithful follower of Jesus and pray always.

 

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 ...