Feast of the Holy Family
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Have you ever stopped to consider how easy it is for us to change our minds but how difficult it is for us to change our hearts? We change our minds so often, so quickly. We don’t give it a second thought. How often have we set our mind on purchasing a particular item online or in a store and have decided we want it because it’s the best, it’s on sale, it’s 50% off, only to end up buying something else? Research says on average we make 35,000 decisions a day. That’s a lot of choices to consider. I wonder how many of those decisions come from simply changing our minds. There are even moments when we change our mind so many times that we cannot even make a final Decision. Imagine being in the Temple hearing Jesus speak for the first time in a public setting. All those who heard him speaking in the Temple were astounded. They were amazed at the profound wisdom that came from the heart of this twelve year old boy who spoke the truth with such confidence and eloquence that they couldn’t stop listening to him speak about the Father, about Moses, about the prophets, about the one who was to come into the world to redeem the house of Israel. Why did they change their minds so quickly about Jesus? He never changed his message. He consistently preached the Good News of forgiveness, of God’s love and of our salvation. How sad to consider that those who heard Jesus speak when he was twelve were probably the same teachers, the same scribes, the same elders who later questioned his relationship with the Father, diminished his authority, did not believe he was the chosen Messiah and would not accept he was the Son of God. He was only the carpenter’s son or the son of Mary his mother. God is unchanging. He remains without change. God has always been loving, merciful, kind and compassionate. He will never change. Then why is it so easy for us to change our minds when it comes to God? We question his love, his law, his will, his commands, his Decisions; yet he never stops loving us. Perhaps this is the new year when we will finally change our hearts and minds about God and come to know and believe him without a doubt, for he truly loves us.

Reflections from the Heart – April 28, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - April 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo “God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.”  I am most grateful ...

Reflections from the Heart – April 21, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - April 21, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his kindness endures ...

Reflections from the Heart – April 14, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - April 14, 2024
Third Sunday of Easterby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you ...

Reflections from the Heart – April 7, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - April 7, 2024
Divine Mercy Sundayby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” ...

Reflections from the Heart – March 31, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - March 31, 2024
Easter Sundayby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.”  As ...

Reflections from the Heart – March 24, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - March 24, 2024
Palm Sundayby Fr. Ivan Olmo “He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he ...

Reflections from the Heart – March 17, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - March 17, 2023
Fifth Sunday of Lentby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”  At the deepest core of our ...

Reflections from the Heart – March 10, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - March 10, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Lentby Fr. Ivan Olmo “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not ...

Reflections from the Heart – March 3, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - March 3, 2024
Third Sunday of Lentby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land ...

Reflections from the Heart – February 25, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - February 25, 2024
Second Sunday of Lent by Fr. Ivan Olmo “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”  Perhaps the most essential ...

Reflections from the Heart – February 18, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - February 18, 2024
First Sunday of Lentby Fr. Ivan Olmo "See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after ...

Reflections from the Heart – February 11, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - February 11, 2024
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,” and you took ...
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