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.

Reflection from the Heart – August 21, 2022

Reflection from the Heart - August 21, 2022
21st Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 14, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - August 14, 2022
20th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 7, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - August 7, 2022
19th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, ...

Reflections from the heart – July 31, 2022

Reflections from the heart - July 31, 2022
18th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 24, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - July 24, 2022
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Ivan Olmo “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord.” Abraham’s ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 17, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - July 17, 2022
16th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.” Silence and ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 10, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - July 10, 2022
15th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 3, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - July 3, 2022
14th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Go on your way…” Our life is often described and compared to ...

Reflection from the Heart – June 26, 2022

Reflection from the Heart - June 26, 2022
13th Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 19, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - June 19, 2022
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christby Fr. Ivan Olmo “For as often as you eat ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 12, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - June 12, 2022
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinityby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” ...

Reflections from the Heart – June 5, 2022

Reflections from the Heart - June 5, 2022
Pentecost Sundayby Fr. Ivan Olmo “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” Do you ...