Podcasts about Redemptorists

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time AJune 21, 2026  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time.Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to Matthew. Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."The gospel of the Lord. Homily In the gospel, Jesus says to his disciples and to all of us: “Fear no one.” He says this as he sends them out on mission, knowing that they will run into serious opposition, just as he did. Jesus was sustained by his unshakable faith in God his Father, but we often have more difficulty. We learn fear from an early age. In high school especially we learn to fear the opinion of others. What do they think of the way I dress, or the way I talk. What might they say? Am I going to belong? It is amazing the contortions we are willing to go through in order to fit in. And if we are not careful, we can lose our sense of self. Fear paralyzes us and can even keep us from doing what we know is right. That is why the media uses fear so much to get us to do what they want, even if it is against our own best interests. So, Jesus explains: Do not fear those who can kill the body but can do no more. Fear the one who can put both body and soul in Gehenna. This requires faith in the God who made us and gives us new life in Jesus. In the first reading we hear the prayer of Jeremiah, who stood up for God against the powers of his day because he believed that God was actively on his side. Down through the centuries the martyrs have cheerfully gone to their deaths, not because they believed in a worthy project, but because they believed in the promise of eternal life that Jesus had given to those who are faithful. God does not fail in his loving concern for us, Jesus assures his disciples. “Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” So why does Jesus tell his disciple to fear the one who can put both body and soul in Gehenna? In the Bible, the Fear of God is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Psalms tell us that the Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. That is because the Fear of God is something other than terror. We can stand terrified before the unknown or before some grave danger that threatens ourselves or a loved one. But God is no danger to us, God is the source of our life and the presence that brings joy and wholeness to our being.   Fear of God is not terror before the Almighty, it is reverence before the One who brought us into being and loves us more than we can possibly imagine. We want to avoid offending God, not because it will draw upon us the divine wrath in some sort of terrible punishment, but because we do not want to become like ungrateful children who do not recognize all the good that their Father or Mother does for them. The fear of God makes us want to become our best selves, and so honor the One who created and redeemed us. Because we want God's grace and loving presence in our lives, we avoid all that take us away from God. We take to heart Jesus' command to fear no one and nothing that would lead us away from God, and we seek to approach and imitate more closely Jesus Christ, because in him we have become children of God, to the honor of God the Father. May God bless you.   Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsR Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help Brooklyn, NY

This reflection was originally published in 2024. Although the Redemptorist's title, ministry assignment, and the dates mentioned reflect the time of its original publication, the message of the readings and the reflection continue to speak meaningfully to us today.

This reflection was originally published in 2024. Although the Redemptorist's title, ministry assignment, and the dates mentioned reflect the time of its original publication, the message of the readings and the reflection continue to speak meaningfully to us today.

For generations, the annual Redemptorist Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been a special moment in the Limerick calendar. This year, more than 5,000 people are expected through the doors of Mount St. Alphonsus each day. As the nine-day Novena gets underway from June 19th to June 27th.Fr. Brian Nolan, Rector of the Redemptorist in Limerick and Director of this year's Novena, joined Gillian to tell us more.Image via Redemptorist website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This reflection was originally published in 2023. Although the Redemptorist's title, ministry assignment, and the dates mentioned reflect the time of its original publication, the message of the readings and the reflection continue to speak meaningfully to us today.

Limerick is preparing to celebrate its Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help from June 19th to 27th at Mount St Alphonsus on Henry Street in Limerick with the Redemptorist Fathers. On this weeks podcast we are joined by Fr Gerry Moloney who takes us through the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and through what is up coming at the novena this  year where the theme is "Called and Sent". The theme is based on the Irish Synodal Pathway and over each day of the Novena, there will be sharing and reflection on the principal focus areas from the synodal pathway. Drawing thousands of attendees from across the Mid-West, the multi-session daily event features scripture-based homilies, petition writing, and specialized sessions for families, the sick, and the elderly. The novena programme is available HERE. And you can get more information including livestreams from the Redemptorists website.Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

Limerick is preparing to celebrate its Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help from June 19th to 27th at Mount St Alphonsus on Henry Street in Limerick with the Redemptorist Fathers. On this weeks podcast we are joined by Fr Gerry Moloney who takes us through the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and through what is up coming at the novena this  year where the theme is "Called and Sent". The theme is based on the Irish Synodal Pathway and over each day of the Novena, there will be sharing and reflection on the principal focus areas from the synodal pathway. Drawing thousands of attendees from across the Mid-West, the multi-session daily event features scripture-based homilies, petition writing, and specialized sessions for families, the sick, and the elderly. The novena programme is available HERE. And you can get more information including livestreams from the Redemptorists website.In part one of the podcast we have our regular run through the upcoming liturgical odds and ends including saints of the week and some bits and bobs from around the Catholic world news.In part three we have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel which this week is a return to the gospel of Matthew as we will journey with Matthew for the most of the liturgical year from now until November. In this weeks gospel (Matthew 9:36 -10:8) we have the naming and sending of the twelve apostles. Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

This reflection was originally published in 2023. Although the Redemptorist's title, ministry assignment, and the dates mentioned reflect the time of its original publication, the message of the readings and the reflection continue to speak meaningfully to us today.

‎⁠Guests : Experienced lawyer Dr ‎Robinson D'Souza and the hostess Ms Sharmila Martis Arora.Fr ‎Juventius Andrade, Redemptorist, continues to bring the spiritual ‎dimension and those aspects of relationships - that a matter such as a ‎‎‘legal will' engenders.‎‎This program on the Legal Will has drawn forth a number of responses and questions. The Living Will has been ‎dealt with in great detail in Episodes 13, 14, and 15.‎A Legal Will, which comes into effect after death, is a form of communication between the person who has died and the heirs. Should the ‎heirs be taken into confidence when the person is still alive? So much depends on the relationship and this has also been discussed in ‎this Episode.‎This 3 Part Episode has shown the importance and urgency of making a Legal Will. Start the process today, if you have not already done so. ‎Listen to this lively discussion and pass on this link to others!‎

Have you made your Legal Will? Part 2.‎‎⁠‎⁠‎As in Episode 21, Part 1, we have an experienced lawyer Dr ‎Robinson D'Souza and the hostess is Ms Sharmila Martis Arora. Fr ‎Juventius Andrade, Redemptorist, continues to bring the spiritual ‎dimension and those aspects of relationships - that a matter such as a ‎‎‘legal will' engenders.‎‎This program on the Legal Will has drawn forth a number of responses and questions. Some of these have been dealt with in Episode ‎‎22. Here, we have discussed the need for sound mind and mental capacity while making a will; the role and responsibility of the Executor ‎and witnesses; the complications of a Joint Will; the importance of indicating nominees; and the distinction between a living will and the ‎legal will. Of course, linked to it, is the possibility of donating organs of the body or the entire body itself at death. The Living Will has been ‎dealt with in great detail in Episodes 13, 14, and 15.‎A Legal Will, which comes into effect after death, is a form of communication between the person who has died and the heirs. Should the ‎heirs be taken into confidence when the person is still alive? So much depends on the relationship and this has also been discussed in ‎this Episode.‎This Episode has shown the importance and urgency of making a Legal Will. Start the process today, if you have not already done so. ‎Listen to this lively discussion and pass on this link to others!‎

As in Episode 21, Part 1, & Episode 22, Part 2, we have an experienced lawyer Dr ‎Robinson D'Souza and the ‎hostess is Ms Sharmila Martis Arora. Fr ‎Juventius Andrade, Redemptorist, continues to bring the spiritual ‎‎dimension and those aspects of relationships - that are dealt with in a Legal Will.‎In this third and final Episode on the Legal Will -  we look at some very concrete matters. How does one include all assets – like ‎passwords, digital material, as well as items of sentimental value? We also look at the establishments of Trusts, and the distinction ‎between a Gift Deed and the Legal Will. ‎There is a danger that when it comes to the Legal Will, one may choose to be so inward-looking and seek to distribute it only within the ‎family. Yet, when we realise, we are stewards of God's resources, it is also important to ensure that some resources in the Legal Will are ‎given to those - persons and causes - who are deprived and in need. ‎A Will is sometimes described as a communication between the dead person and those that are living - the heirs! While a clear legal will ‎try and avoid any conflict, yet if the relationship between the siblings is acrimonious, then it comes to the fore. How could a personal note ‎in the will beckon the heirs to harmony and unity instead of having family gatherings, ironically, in the court of law?‎It is important to remember that the one making the will, is leaving behind not only assets and monies, but a legacy of faith and values as ‎well, which the heirs must seek to continue in the manner in which they live, honouring the memory of the dear departed.   ‎This Episode has shown the importance and urgency of making a Legal Will. Start the process today, if you have not already done so. ‎Listen to this lively discussion and pass on this link to others!‎

This reflection was originally published in 2022. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2024. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2024. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2025. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Full Title Name: Transalpine Redemptorists endorse sedevacantism and imperfect council. Comments and questions. Oath to support U.S. Constitution? Danger of midterm elections: leftist judges lying in wait? Prayers for Fr Ripperger: Most people need therapist. Is "Easter" pagan? Repeating history: today's pagan idols, Arianism, barbarian invasions. Christ sends the Holy Ghost. The glorious reign of Saint Pius V. This episode was recorded on 5/5/2026. Our Links: http://linkwcb.com/ Please consider making a monetary donation to What Catholics Believe. Father Jenkins remembers all of our benefactors in general during his daily Mass, and he also offers one Mass on the first Sunday of every month specially for all supporters of What Catholics Believe. May God bless you for your generosity! https://www.wcbohio.com/donate Subscribe to our other YouTube channels: ‪@WCBHighlights‬ ‪@WCBHolyMassLivestream‬ May God bless you all!

This reflection was originally published in 2025. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Tuesday of the Third Week of EasterApril 21, 2026  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter. Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to John. The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.”      Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”The gospel of the Lord.Homily Today's readings ask us to examine where our lives of faith are grounded. Are they grounded in the words and actions of Jesus or are they simply a set of practices with which we have become comfortable? In the gospel the crowd asks Jesus for a sign to believe in him. Remember, Jesus had just fed the crowd with the five barley loaves and two fish the day before. But they wanted something like the manna which had accompanied their ancestors in the desert for forty years, which they called bread from heaven. Jesus tells them that the true bread from heaven is what God is prepared to give them now, which will not just sustain the body, but will give life to the world. Of course, the crowd responds asking him to give them this bread always. Jesus then says to them: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” When we hear these words, we immediately think of receiving the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion; but Jesus is not speaking just of the Eucharist. He is calling each of us to share in his way of being: to love as he loved, to forgive as he forgave, to relate to God as his beloved children and to see in others our brothers and sisters and bring them consolation and healing as he did. That is just as difficult for us today as it was for those listening to Jesus' words. The bishop St. Augustine liked to tell his people: “become him whom you eat.” One who did just that was Stephen, whom we hear about in today's first reading. St. Luke tells us that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and fearlessly proclaimed Jesus as the Lord and Savior promised by God through the prophets. This did not sit well with the elders and the scribes of the Jewish people. They thought they were done with Jesus by crucifying him, but Stephen accuses them not only of being blind to the law of God, but also of being in the line of those who murdered the prophets. He then proclaims Jesus not only as risen, but seated at the right hand of God. This was all too much for them. They threw Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. In this moment of facing death, Stephen remained a faithful witness to Jesus. He shared Jesus' way of being by his attitude toward his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And he died as Jesus did: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” A young man named Saul witnessed the stoning and may even have incited it; but I am sure he was affected by the manner of Stephen's death, because when Jesus appeared to him on the way to Damascus, he was quickly converted. The question for us is whether our lives witness to the power of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus? In a world where our Pope and bishops are being attacked by figures in authority who feel threatened by their preaching the gospel, may our way of living and speaking in and of Christ Jesus be a witness that can transform the world. May God bless you. Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsRBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

Despite Pope Leo being a relatively outspoken successor to Pope Francis, we are yet to see women be in any position of power within the Catholic Church. So, will we ever see this in the future?Joining Seán to discuss is Father Tony Flannery, a Redemptorist priest who was forbidden to practice by his superiors in Rome in 2012 for speaking up on many issues, including this one…

Despite Pope Leo being a relatively outspoken successor to Pope Francis, we are yet to see women be in any position of power within the Catholic Church. So, will we ever see this in the future?Joining Seán to discuss is Father Tony Flannery, a Redemptorist priest who was forbidden to practice by his superiors in Rome in 2012 for speaking up on many issues, including this one…

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2024. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Saturday of the Fourth Week of LentMarch 21, 2026  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent.Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to John. Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, "This is truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed." Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." Then each went to his own house.The gospel of the Lord.Homily In today's gospel we do not hear Jesus speak, but he is the center of everyone's attention. They all have an opinion about him, but they cannot figure out who he really is. Some think he is the Messiah, and for that the Chief Priests and Pharisees sent their guards to arrest Jesus. Other question Jesus' Galilean origins: "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?” The Pharisees are adamant: “Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." Others say that the Messiah must come from Bethlehem. They did not know what we know from Matthew and Luke that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and is of the house of David. Jesus, however, makes little of his human origins, whether he is from Galilee or Bethlehem. In the verses that come before today's gospel reading, he declares that he comes from the one who sent him. He comes from above; it was God the Father who sent him. For saying that the Chief Priests and Pharisees were even more anxious to arrest Jesus, but the guards returned empty handed, saying: "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." So. They ridiculed the guards and the crowds who were beginning to believe in Jesus. Interestingly, a lone voice spoke up in Jesus' defense. It was Nicodemus, the Pharisee who some time before had gone to see Jesus by night. He asked: "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" The other Pharisees ridiculed him for his efforts; and then each went off to his own house. Listening to Jesus can bring ridicule and following him may even be dangerous. That was true in Jesus' day and is still true in our own. Even now, people are not in agreement over what Jesus represents. Jesus himself said that he had come not to judge the world, but to save it. His compassion for the outcast, the suffering and hungry drew an attentive following, but today compassion is considered weakness and attention to the needy a wasteful use of resources. Christians who adopt this attitude overlook Jesus' humanity on this earth and concentrates on his reigning in power at the right hand of God. This is a Jesus who will come in judgment for the earth, and will come at the head of a victorious army of angels. Thus, they can bless wars, whether in the Ukraine or in Iran. Of course, Pope Francis and now Pope Leo have questioned and sharply criticized this self-styled form of Christianity. Scripture teaches us that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. When he comes in glory, he will gather to himself all who have imitated his life of love and reconciliation. As he said in the famous parable of judgment: “what you have done to the least of my brothers and sisters you have done to me.” We need more Nicodemuses today who are willing to stand up for the justice that flows from recognizing the dignity of every human being as created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed in the blood of Christ. We may not be able to do much on the world stage, but we can begin by recognizing the dignity of each person in our home, our school and our work. May God bless you. Fr. Karl E. EskerBasilica of Our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

This reflection was originally published in 2025. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Full Text of Readings Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent Lectionary: 244 The Saint of the day is Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer's Story Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer might be called the second founder of the Redemptorists, as it was he who carried the congregation of Saint Alphonsus Liguori to the people north of the Alps. John, the name given him at Baptism, was born in Moravia into a poor family, the ninth of 12 children. Although he longed to be a priest, there was no money for studies, and he was apprenticed to a baker. But God guided the young man's fortunes. He found work in the bakery of a monastery where he was allowed to attend classes in its Latin school. After the abbot there died, John tried the life of a hermit, but when Emperor Joseph II abolished hermitages, John again returned to Vienna and to baking. One day after serving Mass at the Cathedral of St. Stephen, he called a carriage for two ladies waiting there in the rain. In their conversation they learned that he could not pursue his priestly studies because of a lack of funds. They generously offered to support both John and his friend Thaddeus, in their seminary studies. The two went to Rome, where they were drawn to Saint Alphonsus' vision of religious life and to the Redemptorists. The two young men were ordained together in 1785. Newly professed at age 34, Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, as he was now called, and Thaddeus were sent back to Vienna. But the religious difficulties there caused them to leave and continue north to Warsaw, Poland. There they encountered numerous German-speaking Catholics who had been left priestless by the suppression of the Jesuits. At first they had to live in great poverty and preach outdoor sermons. Eventually they were given the church of St. Benno, and for the next nine years they preached five sermons a day, two in German and three in Polish, converting many to the faith. They were active in social work among the poor, founding an orphanage and then a school for boys. Drawing candidates to the congregation, they were able to send missionaries to Poland, Germany, and Switzerland. All of these foundations eventually had to be abandoned because of the political and religious tensions of the times. After 20 years of difficult work, Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer himself was imprisoned and expelled from the country. Only after another arrest was he able to reach Vienna, where he was to live and work the final 12 years of his life. He quickly became “the apostle of Vienna,” hearing the confessions of the rich and the poor, visiting the sick, acting as a counselor to the powerful, sharing his holiness with all in the city. His crowning work was the establishment of a Catholic college in his beloved city. Persecution followed Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, and there were those in authority who were able for a while to stop him from preaching. An attempt was made at the highest levels to have him banished. But his holiness and fame protected him and prompted the growth of the Redemptorists. Due to his efforts, the congregation was firmly established north of the Alps by the time of his death in 1820. Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer was canonized in 1909. His liturgical feast is celebrated on March 15. Reflection Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer saw his life's work meet with disaster. Religious and political tensions forced him and his brothers to abandon their ministries in Germany, Poland, and Switzerland. Clement Mary himself was exiled from Poland and had to start all over again. Someone once pointed out that the followers of the crucified Jesus should see only new possibilities opening up whenever they meet failure. Clement Mary encourages us to follow his example, trusting in the Lord to guide us.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Saturday after Ash WednesdayFebruary 21, 2026 Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Saturday after Ash Wednesday.Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to Luke. Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”The gospel of the Lord.Homily In our gospel today we hear Jesus call Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. In the gospel according to Matthew, he will be called Matthew. The name is not so important as the fact that he was a tax collector, a class of people who was despised in Jesus' time because they because they were agents of the Roman occupiers. So, we might ask, along with the Pharisees, why would Jesus call such a person? Jesus obviously knew Matthew/Levi's heart better that he did, because that tax collector left his post immediately and followed Jesus. His joy at being chosen by Jesus was so great that he threw a great banquet and invited his friends, tax collectors and other outcasts, of course, to get to know Jesus. The Pharisees were not impressed. They tried to shame Jesus' disciples: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” They implied that anyone who would associate with tax collectors had to be a sinner. Therefore, the disciples must shun such company. Jesus wasted no time in coming to the defense of his disciples: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” To follow Jesus, one must humbly recognize that he or she is in need of God's saving grace and that Jesus is the source of that grace. In our polarized society, where we are expected to show our allegiance to our own group by despising and bad mouthing those of other opinions or cultures, the call of Matthew/Levi should serve as a wake-up call. Jesus invites the outcasts to follow him and restores their value as children of God. We, each one of us, has been called by Christ, not because of any merit we may think we have, but because of the inner value he sees in us, and wants to bring forth. The prophet Isaiah in today's first reading shows us the way. “If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” The Pharisees erred not by calling those who associated with the tax collectors sinners, but by thinking that they themselves were not. Jesus corrects them, not by denying that those with whom he was associating were sinners, but by saying that those were the very ones he had come to find and to save. As we enter the season of Lent let us recognize our need for forgiveness for the many times we have not acted as children of God and thank Jesus for calling us into his light. Then we must invite others to share in this moment of grace, as did Matthew/Levi.May God bless you. Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsRBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

This reflection was originally published in 2024. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time IIJanuary 21, 2026 – Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to Mark. Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us." Then he said to the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.The gospel of the Lord. Homily At the center of today's gospel is Jesus' question to the Pharisees: "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" The question concerned the man with the withered hand. He was someone Jesus could help and to not help him, even on the sabbath, would be to do evil. The whole purpose of the sabbath was to take time to give glory and praise to God. The whole purpose of Jesus' life and ministry was to give glory and praise to God through his preaching and life-giving acts of healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. At his baptism by John, God had declared Jesus his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased. By healing the man with the withered hand, Jesus was being faithful to whom he was and gave glory to God. The Pharisees probably had not witnessed Jesus' baptism or heard the voice from heaven. They did not recognize Jesus as the beloved Son of God; they simply saw him as a miracle worker doing forbidden work on the sabbath. Their dedication to the law and their power of interpreting the law blinded them to the law of charity. In the end their sense of dedication and power made them unfaithful to the very law they were trying to protect. In today's first reading we hear the story of David's defeat of the Philistine giant Goliath. In facing Goliath, David remained true to himself as a shepherd and to his faith in the God of Israel. By the grace of God, his sling and stone became more powerful than Goliath's armor and sword. David's defeat of the braggart Goliath is thrilling, as is Jesus' put-down of the smug Pharisees, but victory on the side of God often comes with a price. David would run afoul of king Saul's jealousy and the Pharisees would take counsel with the Herodians to put Jesus to death. Nevertheless, Jesus remained faithful to God his Father all the way to the cross and resurrection. We see the same in the life of St. Agnes, whose memory we celebrate today. She was a Virgin in the early Church who had pledged her life to Jesus Christ and believed in his promise of the resurrection. She preferred to serve the poor and attend to the widows and orphans in the Church than to get married. When the governor's son proposed marriage to her, she replied that Jesus Christ was her only spouse. The young man denounced her to his father for being a Christian. She was true to herself and cheerfully accepted being beheaded rather than betray her spouse Jesus Christ. Her example is remembered and honored to this day. Hopefully, none of us will have to face death for our faith in Jesus Christ, but there come moments in our lives when we have to choose between being true to ourselves as children of God by attending the needs of others or to give in to social pressure by excluding them from consideration. We celebrate the fact that the victory belongs to God who is always at our side and we ask St. Agnes to intercede for us that in those moments we place our trust in the God of mercy. May God bless you.   Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsR Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help Brooklyn, NY

Father Francis Gargani entered religious life as a teenager and has remained in the Church through seasons of change, challenge, and growth. Over the years, his ministry has taken many forms—from parish life and campus ministry to caring for people with AIDS and walking alongside LGBTQ Catholics seeking spiritual community. Throughout it all, he reflects on what has helped him stay rooted: community, prayer, and a deep trust in God's presence. Together, host Julie Rose and Father Francis explore what it means to stay when faith becomes uncomfortable and how community, compassion, and a deep conviction in God's love can sustain a life of service. ABOUT THE GUEST Father Francis Gargani was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1971 and is a member of the Redemptorists of Baltimore Province (https://redemptorists.net/). Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2026/01/serving-on-edges-60-years-of-catholic.html CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:37) Meet Father Francis Gargani (1:08) Early Religious Journey (4:14) Challenges in Pastoral Ministry (7:35) Campus Ministry and AIDS Outreach (11:30) LGBTQ Outreach and Controversy (13:53) Intentional Communities and Modern Ministry (17:12) Finding Peace and Staying Hopeful (19:23) Conclusion

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Fr. Jacob, a priest with St. Michael's Abbey, talks about the life and work of St. John Neumann.  St. John Neumann (1811-60) was born in Europe and ordained a priest.  He came to the U.S., joined the Redemptorist order, and was made bishop of Philadelphia.  He played a key role in establishing the Catholic education system in the U.S.Listen live weekdays at 6am and 11am Pacific Time at spiritfilledradio.org or get the App for Spirit Filled Radio for your smart phone or tablet devices.Consider Donating and sponsoring our radio and podcast programming at spiritfilledradio.org #catholicradio #spiritfilledhearts #norbertinefathers #saintmichaelabbey #FrJacobHsieh #saintspeterandpaul #catholic #latinmass #epiphany Support the show

This reflection was originally published in 2023. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Send us a textWe trace Saint John Neumann's journey from Bohemia to Philadelphia and show how Eucharistic devotion shaped parishes, schools, and lives across America. We share stories of miracles, adoration, and mercy, and invite you to step into this living legacy with us.• early life and vocation in Bohemia• immigrant mission across American frontiers• first Redemptorist profession in the United States• bishop of Philadelphia building churches and schools• Forty Hours devotion and widespread adoration• founding the diocesan Catholic school system• service to the poor, sick, and immigrants• miracles and intercession after his death• multicultural evangelization and unity in the Eucharist• canonization and ongoing patronage for the ChurchVisit Journeysoffaith.com website todayBe sure to click the link in the description for special news item, and since there is more to this article, finish reading and check out the special offerShop devotionals and relics, largest regional selection, Eucharistic Miracles, Saints, Marian Apparitions, and moreEnjoy discounts up to 50% plus free shipping on orders over$18Saint John Neumann CollectionOpen by Steve Bailey Support the showJourneys of Faith brings your Super Saints Podcasts ***Our Core Beliefs*** The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Faith." Catechism 132 Click Here “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” 1Thessalonians 4“ Click Here ... lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...” Matthew 6:19-2 Click Here The Goal is Heaven Click Here Please consider subscribing to this podcast or making a donation to Journeys of Faith we are actively increasing our reach and we are seeing good results for visitors under 40! Help us Grow! Buy Me a cup of Coffee Why you should shop here at Journeys of Faith official site! Lowest Prices and Higher discounts...

Monday after Epiphany Memorial of St. John Neumann, 1811-1860; came to America and joined the Redemptorists, and faithfully served the poor in Buffalo, New York; became bishop of Philadelphia in 1852, and established over 50 churches, 100 schools and began the building of a cathedral; he is the first American bishop to be canonized Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/5/26 Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Full Text of Readings The Saint of the day is Saint John Neumann Saint John Neumann's Story Perhaps because the United States got a later start in the history of the world, it has relatively few canonized saints, but their number is increasing. Saint John Neumann was born in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague, he came to New York at 25 and was ordained a priest. He did missionary work in New York until he was 29, when he joined the Redemptorists and became its first member to profess vows in the United States. He continued missionary work in Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, where he became popular with the Germans. At 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time. Gifted with outstanding organizing ability, he drew into the city many teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers. During his brief assignment as vice provincial for the Redemptorists, he placed them in the forefront of the parochial movement. Well-known for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing and preaching, on October 13, 1963, Saint John Neumann became the first American bishop to be beatified. Canonized in 1977, he is buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia. Reflection Neumann took seriously our Lord's words, “Go and teach all nations.” From Christ he received his instructions and the power to carry them out. For Christ does not give a mission without supplying the means to accomplish it. The Father's gift in Christ to John Neumann was his exceptional organizing ability, which he used to spread the Good News. Today the Church is in dire need of men and women to continue in our times the teaching of the Good News. The obstacles and inconveniences are real and costly. Yet when Christians approach Christ, he supplies the necessary talents to answer today's needs. The Spirit of Christ continues his work through the instrumentality of generous Christians.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

This reflection was originally published in 2022. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2022. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Meet the traditional Redemptorist religious who broke decades of silence to publicly confront what they see as the errors of the Synodal Church. In this exclusive interview, Father Michael Mary, FSSR, explains the final straw—Pope Francis' remarks in Singapore—that compelled his congregation to openly reject doctrinal ambiguity and religious indifferentism. He issues a stark challenge: excommunication for defending truth is meaningless. This is the story of their stand, and a call for all Catholics to find the courage to do the same.HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=CH25_videoU.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ ****Download the all-new LSNTV App now, available on iPhone and Android!LSNTV Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lsntv/id6469105564 LSNTV Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lifesitenews.app +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This reflection was originally published in 2022. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time INovember 21, 2025 – Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to Luke. Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.The gospel of the Lord. Homily The celebration of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary began in Jerusalem in the 6th century and then slowly spread through the Christian world. The story does not come from the Bible, but is based on a third century document that tries to fill in the blanks in the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that are not told in the Gospels. It is a devotional work and can be fanciful at times. The story of Joachim and Ana presenting Mary in the Temple in Jerusalem at three years old is based on the Old Testament account of Samuel's presentation in the Temple and expresses the truth of Mary's giving herself in service to God. This brings us to today's readings, where in the gospel, we hear of Jesus' cleansing of the Temple by driving out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” Once he had restored the sacred space of the Temple, Jesus began to teach the people there. The first reading from the first book of Maccabees has a similar message. After Judas and his brothers had driven out the pagan invaders who had profaned the Temple, they purified and rededicated the Temple, so that sacrifices could once again be offered to God. This is the origin of the feast of Hanukkah, which the Jewish people celebrate to the present day. From this we see the necessity of a sacred space where the faithful can safely gather to worship and offer prayers to God. Of course, our heart is the first sacred space, where we offer ourselves to God in obedience to the commandments of love of God and love of neighbor. But it is difficult to love our neighbor if we do not first pray for and with our neighbor. And in the busyness and noise of our daily lives, we need churches and temples to help us create the space where our hearts feel the presence of God and find the peace to speak to God. The presentation of Mary teaches us that she learned at an early age to open her heart to God and participate in the sacred space that was the Temple. This forms the basis for her receptivity to the message of the angel in the annunciation and her response: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Just as Mary learned as a child to respond to God's calling, the children of our Christian community need to do the same. How do we bring up children to recognize God and revere the sacred spaces? One way is for parents to teach them their prayers and to pray with them. Another is for the children to accompany the family to church from the time they are little. Mary grew up in a devout and faith filled family. Today's children should have the same opportunity. May God bless you.Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsRBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

For our final episode of Season 9, we are humbled to welcome Joseph Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, NJ. Cardinal Tobin talks about growing up in a thriving Catholic parish in Detroit, MI, and later serving there as a Redemptorist priest when the parish had become increasingly ethnically diverse. He offers his sharp critiques of the campaign of mass deportation that runs counter to the Biblical call to welcome the stranger. He talks about Pope Francis, whose concern for migrants grew from listening to the needs of the Church. Cardinal Tobin participated in the conclave to elect Pope Leo, so he shares from that remarkable experience, and the efforts of all the Cardinals to listen to the Holy Spirit.Brian and Joe share stories about the importance of listening. Joe talks about a recent experience listening to Kevin and Aidéy, a migrant couple in northern Mexico going through some relationship struggles. As they live in separate shelters, they have been sending handwritten notes back and forth and reflecting on the importance of listening to one another to maintain a healthy relationship. Brian shares that story of Brianna, a young girl from Honduras, who taught him a beautiful lesson in the value of listening without presumption or judgment, but with an open heart. Her small gesture during Mass reminds us why Jesus called children among the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.Thank you for joining us for this season, and blessings as we approach the end of the year. We will be back with a new season in early 2026.

This reflection was originally published in 2022. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

Father Royston Price, a Redemptorist priest who will be preaching the Basilica's Parish Mission later this week, shares a homily during the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. It was given in the Basilica on November 9, 2025. Click here to learn more about the Nov. 12-14 Parish Mission, which all are invited to attend: https://stmaryoldtown.org/parishmission2025/

This reflection was originally published in 2021. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!

This reflection was originally published in 2021. While the Redemptorist's title, location, and the specific days and dates mentioned may no longer align, the reading and reflection remain just as relevant today!