Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“What do you wish me to do for you?” Usually, we do not appreciate being told what to do. We simply do not care for someone telling us what we can and cannot do or what we can and cannot say. Even if someone asks nicely, it simply bothers us. Even if we know it is the right thing to do, we just don’t care for it. Even though it is something within reason, it still doesn’t matter. Even though it is something we have to do – let’s face it, we just don’t like being told what to do. The cause of our resentment can vary. Sometimes it’s simply our pride that gets in the way (nobody tells me what to do!) or we don’t know the messenger (who does he think he is!) or we simply dislike the person giving the order (I can’t stand her!). We simply prefer not having anyone tell us what to do. Then, why are we so easily prone to be led by evil and do what Satan tells us to do? Didn’t we promise to reject him and all his works and all his empty promises? One of the things that should cause us to have a deep and genuine admiration for Jesus is that even though no one has the right or the authority to tell Jesus what to do, he still listened to Mary and Joseph and remained ever faithful to the Father’s Divine Will. What perfect humility even to the point of dying on the Cross. This inspires me, as Mary said, to do whatever Jesus tells me to do. Jesus, who is our Lord and King, never asks us to do something he himself has not done. He lived and died, loved and gave, prayed and obeyed, forgave and shared, blessed and believed and now he invites us to do the same. Jesus, though ever pure and sinless, undefiled and innocent, holy and without stain, allowed himself to receive a baptism of repentance so we could receive a baptism of salvation – a baptism of eternal life. This amazing example of Jesus’ deep devotion and love and profound humility should inspire us to happily imitate him in listening to Mary and Joseph and simply do whatever the Father asks us to do. When the Devil told Adam and Eve what to do, they listened to him and died. When the Devil told Jesus what to do, Jesus simply told him, “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Reflections from the Heart – October 15, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 15, 2023
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!” The word ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 8, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 8, 2023
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Let me now sing of my friend.” As years pass, we seem ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 1, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - October 1, 2023
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.” ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 24, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 24, 2023
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Intimate ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 17, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 17, 2023
Twenty-fourthSunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.”  Scripture ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 10, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 10, 2023
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 3, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - September 3, 2023
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.” What is ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 27, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 27, 2023
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 20, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 20, 2023
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Lord, help me."  Prayer is such a simple thing, really and we ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 13, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 13, 2023
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for his word.”  I ...

Reflections from the Heart – August 6, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - August 6, 2023
Transifuguration of the Lordby Fr. Ivan Olmo Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are ...

Reflections from the Heart – July 30, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - July 30, 2023
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes."  The word honest ...