Fr. John Ehrich Catholic Homilies

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Glendale, AZ.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Glendale, AZ.

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

For the entire video worship service go to www.stmglendale.org

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

For full Sunday Worship Service video and music please check out www.stmglendale.org

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

Please see entire Worship Service video at www.stmglendale.org

Fr. John Ehrich, STL

For full worship service video go to stmglendale.org

The disciples are in a state of excitement and confusion as they recover from a series of events and realizations. Jesus is crucified, His body is gone from the tomb and He appears absent, and then He reveals himself as resurrected, alive again. So He’s with them in presence and life in new form...but then again, He says, “I am leaving.” And the key note to remember is his last words, “Follow Me.”

 

We hear the departing words of Jesus that His new purpose is to go back to the Father in order to prepare a place for us.

 

In the whirlwind of events and transitions in our personal lives, where we can feel connected and then disconnected to Christ and his presence or Body, let us reflect on “the bigger plan” that is consistently proclaimed in the Gospel. A bigger reality, a fulfillment that He provides, a gift beyond our expectations. We know intuitively that we are created for more, for a lasting state of being, and ultimately for Union in divinity. By His grace, we can see that our own present plans and realities are very small in the midst of a bigger one. Perhaps if we learn how to suspend our expectations and rely on His objective providence and promise, we can trust more deeply and securely in the coming events in our lives.

See full worship service at www.stmglendale.org

Jesus regularly speaks in metaphors about animals and crops, often relating to the agrarian citizens of his historical time.

 

Take the ‘Shepherd and His Flock’ concept. One of His ideas or depictions could portray two or three shepherds meeting, and congregating together, and therefore, so do their flocks - their individual group of sheep mingle together into a larger flock. If we regard the role of shepherds to the role of priests and prominent holy people, we could see how contemporary religious leaders today are entrusted to their followers and seek to provide their insights and concrete display of faith. Their actions are meant to lead us into deeper communion with Christ and each other.

 

We as followers might initially have a hard time trusting our shepherds, leaders, as well as the Voice of God, the primary Shepherd. Are we openly listening to these various voices with trust and willingness? Are we willing to later follow through with their practical applications in our lives? These are various and monumental steps that take place throughout our life. What if Jesus, in all the ways He presents Himself, were to be for us a loving friend? As The Shepherd who we can engage with, can we continually trust Him to lead us to new pastures, mingling even with various flocks and families and ultimately being our guide to deep joy?

For full video of worship service go to www.stmglendale.org