Pastor’s Blog

Sunday’s reading are challenging. It continues the theme of reconciliation that we began last Sunday. Perhaps we can sum up the lesson for today in the following points.

First, do we pray for something from God which we deny to others?

Second, let go of wrath, anger, hurt, and resentments. Instead, seek healing, forgiveness, and mercy.

Third, learn to forgive yourself. If you cannot forgive yourself, you cannot forgive anyone else.

Fourth, contrary to the American and New York way of thinking, your life does not belong to you alone. Your life is in relationship with many other lives. You are not alone; you are part of a wide network of relationships.

From my pastoral experience, I have found that while people complain of how hurt they are or have been, they refuse to let go of the feelings and they keep them always uppermost in their memory. Thus, they allow the past hurt to control their present, and it never disappears. Consequently, they never experience peace.

However, it seems that we like our hurts and our anger. Yes, many of us love to keep telling the story over and over again so we get sympathy and attention. When we tell the story, we are always seeing ourselves as right and the other as wrong.

If this is your habit, pray for grace to let it go. Then you may have peace. Also pray to see your part in the hurt inflicted. Forgive yourself and move on.

In the Gospel, the message is clear as day. Do not ask for forgiveness, or mercy, or kindness from God if you refuse mercy, kindness, and forgiveness to others.

So, if you seek patience from God, then show patience to another. If you seek a particular healing or care for your family, then be a sign of healing for someone else. The graces you need from God, try to be that grace for someone else.

In this way, you are not the center of your prayer; rather, the Lord and His commandment are the center of prayer.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Readings

The Word of God today reminds us that faith is never merely a private possession. It carries with it a responsibility for one another. To be a Christian is not simply to seek our own salvation; it is also to care about the spiritual and human well-being of those around us.

The prophet Ezekiel presents himself as a watchman for God’s people. A watchman cannot see danger approaching and remain silent. In the same way, when we see someone moving toward serious harm or sin, we cannot simply say, “That is his problem” or “That is her problem.” Christian faith calls us to care because we belong to one another.

There are times when silence is necessary and wise. But there are also moments when silence becomes a failure of charity. In our families, communities, workplaces, and Church, fear, friendship, or convenience can make us reluctant to speak when something is seriously wrong. Yet Christian courage calls us to speak the truth—not harshly or judgmentally, but with humility, wisdom, and genuine concern for the dignity of the other person.

This is where St. Paul helps us to hold truth and love together. Truth without love can wound; love without truth can mislead. Christian love therefore has the courage to speak the truth, but always with the intention of healing and building up.

Jesus gives us the practical way to do this in today’s Gospel: “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Jesus’ emphasis is not on condemnation but on restoration. We are not called to expose, humiliate, or defeat another person. We are called to “win your brother or sister.”

That means avoiding gossip, public embarrassment, and unnecessary judgment. We should speak directly, listen carefully, give the other person an opportunity to explain, and seek reconciliation rather than victory. When someone acknowledges wrongdoing, we should be ready to forgive.

This spirit is at the heart of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sin is acknowledged, God’s mercy is received, and communion is restored. The ultimate purpose is not simply to identify what is wrong but to bring the person back to the fullness of life and communion.

My brothers and sisters, the three readings therefore challenge us to reject indifference. Ezekiel says: do not remain silent when someone is heading toward destruction. Paul says: let love guide our relationships with one another. Jesus says: seek reconciliation when relationships are wounded.

This has practical implications for our daily lives. Let us care enough to speak when necessary, but let us speak with love. Let us listen before judging. Let us address problems directly rather than through gossip. Let us forgive rather than keep wounds alive. And let us never use truth as a weapon against another person.

Our families, parishes, and communities need truth and mercy, courage and gentleness, accountability and forgiveness.

May God give us the wisdom to know when to speak, the courage to speak with love, the humility to listen when we are corrected, and the grace to seek reconciliation whenever relationships are broken. May our faith never make us indifferent to one another. Instead, may it make us people who care enough to help one another choose the path that leads to life.

Monsignor Guy Massie
September 6, 2026
Sunday Readings

The major symbol of our faith is the Cross. The Cross is made when a horizontal beam and a vertical beam meet, causing a conflict.

Crosses come into our lives. Sometimes these crosses are the direct result of striving to do what is just and right.

In the first reading, Jeremiah the prophet is praying, pouring out his heart to God, whom he blames for all his heartaches. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet.

Prophets do not tell the future. Prophets speak the truth to power structures. Prophets ask questions and often challenge the status quo. Prophets seek to help people return to faithfulness and truth. Jeremiah did as God wanted.

The Reality of the Cross

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the Apostles that He will suffer and die in Jerusalem. Peter, who in last Sunday’s Gospel confesses Jesus as Christ, or the Messiah, will not hear such talk. Just the mention of the word “cross” is enough to send Peter and the disciples running in the opposite direction.

Remember: Peter and the disciples knew exactly what the cross meant. They saw crucifixion in their lifetime. For us, the symbol of the cross has become too easy to observe. It has been sterilized. The reality is too much to even imagine.

The cross in the ancient Roman world was a sign of suffering, humiliation, and defeat.

The Cost of Discipleship

“I have done all the right things, and I am still suffering.”

I cannot tell you how often I have heard the above quote. If you were doing the right things and did not meet with opposition, I would be concerned.

To be a disciple of Christ means seeking to speak the truth when all others are reacting too emotionally. Disciples seek to face the deep-seated truth about themselves rather than judging the motives of others. Discipleship means asking oneself, as well as others, questions that lead to truth.

Discipleship means recognizing God-given human dignity out of love for all humanity. Humanity reflects God.

When others are speaking about white supremacy, the disciple of Christ must speak about the God-given dignity of each person, regardless of race, color, creed, or orientation. When others are seeking to exercise superiority over those whom they deem of lesser quality, the disciple speaks prophetically by addressing truth to power.

In each of these cases, those who love enough to speak out for truth will face opposition. This is just as Jesus has said.

Let us rejoice.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Sunday Readings

Peter’s Confession

In Sunday’s Gospel, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ. What does this mean? What does it not mean?

First, the title “Christ” means “the Anointed One” or “the Messiah.” It is a title; it is not Jesus’ last name.

Second, the titles “Messiah” and “Christ” were filled with political and religious meanings and expectations. For the Jews of Jesus’ time, these titles carried the hope of returning the land of Israel to Jewish control and overthrowing the occupying forces—the Romans. They also pointed to a time when the ways of God would govern the world, a time of peace and justice.

While the spiritual meaning of the Messiah was similar to Jesus’ message, it was not exactly what Jesus meant. For Jesus, the role of the Messiah, or the Christ, was one of redemption from sin and the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus, the Messiah

Jesus was faithful to the religious meaning of the Torah and to God’s will for Israel. In fact, His obedience to the will of God would lead to His death. His obedience would redeem our disobedience.

God’s Kingdom means living as God wills. Jesus was reluctant to use the title for Himself because of its political understanding.

Third, yes, Jesus is the Messiah and the Christ—but not in the popular way people expected. Each of us must confess who Jesus is.

Living the Gospel

If you confess that Jesus is the Christ, then you must strive to live as Jesus taught us by loving God and our neighbor. You must strive to be a person of honesty, integrity, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, and justice.

You must be a person who recognizes the dignity of every person, especially the poor. Yes, the Kingdom of God will come in God’s time. For now, it exists in the Gospel values we live and practice.

So, who do you say Jesus is?

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
August 23, 2026

A Story With Many Meanings

There are many ways to understand this story. Jesus Himself, perhaps in His humanity, may have been startled that His message was being accepted by the non-Jewish world. He may also have been coming to realize that His message would have a universal appeal earlier than expected.

The non-Jewish world comes to know Christ through the preaching of Paul and others. Jesus is compassionate, yet this woman is a pagan.

Did she understand that He was more than a miracle worker? Did she understand that faith in Him was necessary? Did she understand that His mission was one of service? Why did Jesus delay in His response to her?

The Lesson of the Nameless Woman

The lesson of the day rests with the nameless woman. She teaches us several aspects of prayer.

She seems to have great faith. Notice that her faith grew during the conversation with Jesus. At first, she calls Him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy.” This is a messianic title that recognizes Jesus as a leader and a wonder worker. At the end of the Gospel, she addresses Him as “Lord.” Her faith grew.

She had hope even when He would not speak with her. Her prayer was motivated by love. She was asking for healing for her daughter.

Prayer From the Heart

Prayer must be real. Prayer must reflect who we are and what we are feeling. It must be radical, going to the root of our heart.

Prayer need not have the right words; it has to have the right heart. Prayer must express who we really are.

She even braved His rebuke for the sake of her daughter. She loved much. She was persistent. She had courage, and she received her miracle.

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
August 16, 2026
Sunday Readings