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

“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.” What is God’s desire for you? Take a moment to consider it, ponder the question.  Really think about it.  Do not let the question simply pass-through like a passing thought but let it stay awhile and linger so that you may actually chew on the word, taste the question and savor the sweetness that you will extract from taking the time to consider with intention and presence God’s desire for you. Let the thought inform you and as you consider it, let the thought instruct you and as you think about it, let the thought inspire you and as you ponder it, let the thought move you to awe and wonder.  What is God’s desire for you?  As you meditate and contemplate these words, consider how God, who is without need, perfect, creates out of a loving desire.  God’s desire for you is love in the truest sense of a love that is indestructible, permanent and forever.  The kind of love that knowing how its creation will rebel and reject the hand that created it, still chooses to create for true love only desires love so it creates in tender love and recreates and restores in divine mercy.  Love creates for true love forgives from the heart.  True love is relentless in compassion, forgiveness, charity and mercy.  It truly wills only the greatest good for the other.  Sin is an obstacle to love.  Love is the remedy for sin.  Sin destroys and takes apart.  Love unites and makes new again.  Sin causes everyone to suffer sadness and suffering sadness to despair.  Love brings about joyful healing and joyful healing brings gratitude, hope and trust.  If God desires only what is wholesome, good and joyful for you and seeks only to offer you eternal happiness and perpetual peace with him, then what does Satan desire for you?  What does he will for you?  Take the time to think about it.  No sweetness here.  The thoughts are dark; its flavor bitter.  Satan only wills what is opposite and contrary to God’s desire for you.  If God wills only the greatest good for you then Satan can only will the great harm for you.  Satan is a direct obstacle and intrusion to your happiness and the peace that only God can offer you.  If God makes you his beloved child, then Satan wills you to be an orphan.  If God desires you joy and happiness, then Satan robs you of joy and brings you misery.  Think about it.

Reflections from the Heart – February 4, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - February 4, 2024
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  ...

Reflections from the Heart – January 28, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - January 28, 2024
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will ...

Reflections from the Heart – January 21, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - January 21, 2024
Third Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God ...

Reflections from the Heart – January 14, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - January 14, 2024
Second Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”  The Spiritual Exercises of Saint ...

Reflections from the Heart – January 7, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - January 7, 2023
The Epiphany of the Lordby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Where is the newborn king?”  The heart of the Gospels reveals to ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 31, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 31, 2023
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Josephby Fr. Ivan Olmo “He who obeys his father brings comfort ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 24, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 24, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Nothing will be impossible for God.” I recall in my youth, in my ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 15, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 15, 2023
Third Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 10, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 10, 2023
Second Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “The Lord is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 3, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “O LORD, you are our father: we are all the work of your ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 26, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - November 26, 2023
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” The Liturgy of the ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 19, 2023

Reflections from the Heart - November 19, 2023
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.” One of the ways I ...
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.