18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart?” Why is it so difficult to listen to Jesus? Isn’t that what our Heavenly Father asked us to do? Didn’t he say, “This is my Beloved Son, listen to him?” Didn’t our sweet beloved Mother say to us to do whatever Jesus asks us to do? Didn’t the Lord say, he was the Good Shepherd and his sheep hear his voice and follow him? And, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts?” Why don’t we listen to God? Why don’t we listen to Jesus? Why don’t we listen to the Holy Spirit? Why don’t we listen to our Mother Mary? Why don’t we obey our parents? Jesus calls us to a radical freedom. Free from sin, free from stress, free from worry, free from anxiety, free to simply be loved by God. Listening to God and obeying his Word is freedom. It is the right thing to do. The only way to live freely at peace. Don’t you want to be free? Is freedom a possibility for you? Are you living in the freedom of the children of God or are you living as a slave of doubt, discouragement, fear? Are you concerned about what people think or worried about what they might say or afraid about what they would do if you said the wrong thing, made a mistake or they knew you didn’t know the answer? Will you worry about today, be concerned about yesterday, be afraid of tomorrow all the days of your life? Saint Paul gives us encouragement by saying, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” In other words, why worry? Acknowledge your concern and in prayer related to God and ask for the strength, the trust, the grace to be anxiety free. Saint Peter also offers us his wisdom by saying, “Cast all your worries upon [God] because he cares for you.” Once again, don’t worry about it. Simply give it to God and trust he’s got it. Finally, Jesus gives us the words that speak directly to the heart and speak directly to us when he says to you, “Why are you anxious about clothes? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” He says, “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” So don’t worry, be free – listen to Jesus.

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 ...
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.