Reflecting on Naaman’s cleansing and Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers, this homily contrasts merely seeing facts with embracing the truth behind them—the latter can be transformative. That is why one grateful leper was saved—not just healed of his disease. In the same way, in the second reading Paul’s call to hold fast to truth leads to life, and turning away from truth leads nowhere.
In this reflection for the Feast of St. Francis, Father Scott Steinkerchner explores the meaning of "being crucified to the world" from Galatians. He discusses how St. Francis's stigmata represent a detachment from worldly desires and a commitment to Jesus's values. He challenges viewers to consider how embracing these values might make them counter-cultural, yet faithful to God's calling.
Fr. Scott explores the meaning of confession, inspired by the reading from the Prophet Baruch. He challenges us to move beyond seeing confession solely as a sacrament and to embrace daily acts of acknowledging our faults and seeking forgiveness. Discover how confession can help us move beyond sin.
For 16 September 2025, Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, based on Luke 7:11-17
Explore the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with Father Scott Steinkerchner! Discover the history behind this important day, tracing it back to St. Helena and the discovery of the True Cross relics. Learn about the significance of the cross, not as an object of miraculous power, but as a symbol of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice and the path to eternal life. Understand the connection between the serpent in the desert, Nicodemus, and the call to pour ourselves out in service to others.
For 10 September 2025, Wednesday of week 23 in Ordinary Time, based on Luke 6:20-26
Join Fr. Scott in Jamaica for a reflection on the Feast of the Birthday of Mary and the readings from Micah and Matthew's Gospel. Discover how God's plans unfold even when life takes unexpected turns ("zigs and zags"). Learn to stay attentive to the present moment and trust that God will bring a greater good, even when things don't go as planned. Perfect for those seeking spiritual guidance, biblical insights, and a deeper understanding of faith in everyday life.
Speaking from a beautiful garden in Madison, Wisconsin, Fr. Scott connects his friend's retirement passion for gardening with the spiritual call to passionate prophetic action. Using Jesus' words about lighting fires and Jeremiah's willingness to face persecution, he challenges viewers to identify what they're passionate enough about to risk everything for. Addressing current world crises like Gaza and Ukraine, he calls for moving beyond comfortable inaction to light the fires of change our broken world desperately needs.
The video powerfully connects ancient biblical themes of prophetic courage with contemporary challenges. The informal garage setting and family context make the message very relatable while addressing serious themes about standing up for justice, trusting God when facing consequences, and the call for all Christians to be prophetic voices in today's world. Karen's story provides a concrete example of what prophetic action looks like in professional healthcare settings.
In today's first reading, Moses tells us that what God wants from his people: to "befriend" the immigrant, because we were once ourselves all immigrants. What was true of the Jewish people, is true of most Americans—98% of us were once aliens. As we deal with our broken immigration system, we need to recognize that God requires us to befriend immigrants, to feed and clothe them. Do we live up to that minimum standard?