Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” 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 allowing 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 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 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. But 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, 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. So put yourself in a place where God can find you and then let him love you there. 

Reflections from the Heart – December 8, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - December 8, 2024
Second Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 1, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - December 1, 2024
First Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 24, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 24, 2024
The Solemnity of Christ the Kingby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Listening ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 17, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 17, 2024
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 10, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 10, 2024
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." One of ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 3, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 3, 2024
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 27, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 27, 2024
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 20, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 20, 2024
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 13, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 13, 2024
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 6, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 6, 2024
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 29, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - September 29, 2024
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 22, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - September 22, 2024
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul ...