Faithfulness

Rooted in Hope: Building Our Lives on Christ and God’s Unfailing Love

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on Luke 21

My Sisters and Brothers,

As we sit together today in prayer, let us acknowledge our Lord Jesus’ presence among us. And, before anything else, remember this: Jesus loves each of us more deeply than we can ever imagine. No matter where we are or what we face, He is always with us and never distant, never leaving us to face life’s storms alone.

Today’s Gospel is enough to make anyone uneasy. Jesus stands before the glorious temple in Jerusalem—the heart of faith, the symbol of God’s presence—and shocks everyone by saying, “All that you see here—every stone—will be thrown down.” The people are stunned. They want details: they want a timeline, a way to prepare, a set of steps to avoid catastrophe.

And Jesus tells them, honestly, you can’t avoid troubles of the world. There will be wars, disasters, betrayals. Even the things you most treasure and trust: family, friendships, even the beauty and security of your religious traditions—sometimes even these will fall away. But then, right in the middle of all these warnings, he says, “Do not be terrified… Not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

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Temple of the Spirit: Letting Christ Renew Our Hearts

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of John 2:13-22

Brothers and sisters,

Today’s Gospel is dramatic. We see Jesus as we don’t often see Him—angry, passionate, driving out money-changers and cattle from the Temple. His voice echoes: “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” You can almost feel the whip in His hand, the clatter of coins, the shocked faces. At first glance, it seems harsh. But as with everything Jesus does, there’s something deeper.

What was so wrong with selling animals and changing money? The merchants were, in a practical sense, helping people fulfill their religious duties. Yet Jesus knew the difference between help and hindrance. He saw clutter—spiritual distractions and noise—taking over what was meant to be sacred space. The Temple, God’s holy dwelling, had become just another market.

But listen again to Jesus’ words—He pointed to something even greater: “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The people thought He was talking about the stone building, but He meant His own Body. He was saying that God’s real dwelling place was no longer a place, but a Person. In Christ, heaven and earth meet.

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Never Rejected: Christ’s Promise of Hope, Trust, and New Beginnings

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of John 6:37-40

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s Gospel offers us an astonishing promise from Jesus: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me… everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

If you’ve ever feared being left out, or wondered if you’re good enough for God, this Gospel is for you. Here, Jesus is perfectly clear: when you come to him, you are welcomed. The will of his Father is that not one person is lost. Christ came to gather all and reject none.

But how can we draw hope from this in our ordinary, messy lives? It all leads us to the Paschal Mystery—Jesus’ dying and rising. When Jesus hung on the cross, it looked like God’s love had failed. But the resurrection shows us the truth: no darkness, no rejection, no defeat is the end of the story in God’s hands. What Jesus says in this Gospel, he lives out for us—and for each of us, there is new life beyond the grave.

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From the Court to the Cross: The Power of Humble Love   

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on Luke 18:9-14 

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Imagine you’re watching high school basketball tryouts. The gym’s humming with energy and nerves. Two players stand out for totally different reasons. 

First, there’s Jake. He’s confident—maybe overconfident. He’s telling everyone how many points he scored last year, how hard he trains, how much better he is than the other guys. When he makes a shot, he celebrates; when someone else messes up, he rolls his eyes. He’s talented, no question. But it’s obvious who’s at the center of Jake’s universe: Jake. 

Then there’s Marcus. Marcus isn’t flashy. He fumbles sometimes, and sometimes he misses easy shots. But when he trips, he picks himself up and keeps hustling. When someone passes him the ball, you can hear him whisper thanks. When the coach gives feedback, Marcus listens—not defensively, but with genuine openness. He doesn’t act like he’s above anyone else, but you can tell he loves the game and the people around him. 

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The Power of Persistent Prayer: Trusting God’s Justice and Love in Our Journey of Faith  

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 18:1-8 

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Today’s Gospel from Luke invites us into a profound lesson on prayer and faith through the story of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. Jesus teaches us to never give up on prayer, to keep trusting God’s justice even when answers seem delayed. Unlike the unjust judge, God truly cares for us and will secure justice for those who call on Him without losing heart. The question Jesus leaves us with—“Will the Son of Man find faith on earth?”—challenges us to hold fast to our faith amid life’s struggles. 

Mother Teresa beautifully captured this mystery when she said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” Prayer is less about demanding answers and more about trusting God’s perfect timing and justice, just as the widow trusted and persisted. 

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The Gift of Gratitude: Returning to the Giver 

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 17:11-19 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Let’s pause for a moment and acknowledge the love of God in our lives—love revealed through our Lord Jesus and lived out each day by the Spirit. When we truly recognize the Father’s love, gratitude naturally follows. We give thanks, praise, and glory because we know every good thing is a gift. These gifts aren’t just for us—they’re invitations to return to God and live in the grace and unity of the Holy Trinity. 

The greatest gift is Jesus Himself. Not a distant figure, but our Lord, mentor, teacher, and friend. When we pray, read His Word, and share in the sacraments, we’re not just remembering Him—we’re with Him. If we quiet our hearts and listen, we might even hear Him say, “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much. Come be by my side, and together our hearts will be one with the Father and the Spirit.” 

Gratitude in All Things: Chesterton’s Wisdom and the Gospel’s Call 

G.K. Chesterton, a great Catholic writer, once reflected on gratitude. He wrote, “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” Chesterton’s point is simple: give thanks to God in all things, recognizing His gifts everywhere. 

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Faith Like a Mustard Seed: Trust, Humility, and Service in Christ

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 17:5-10

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we gather as one community of faith, we pause to give thanks and praise and glory to our LORD God—for his love that never runs out, for his grace that meets us right where we are. We thank our Father in heaven for the greatest gift: his only begotten Son, Jesus. Through Jesus—his Word made flesh—God’s love isn’t just an idea. It’s something we can receive, hold onto, let grow inside us, and share with the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we pray today, let’s become aware of Jesus’ true presence among us. He’s here—in our prayer, in the Mass, in the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), and in the loving hearts of those around us. When we sit quietly and listen with a prayerful ear, we can hear Jesus whispering into our hearts: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me, and together our hearts shall be one; one with our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit.” To follow Jesus is to say yes to our Father’s will, by walking the same path he walked: trusting the Father, serving others, and embracing humility as children of God.

Small Faith, Big God: Trust, Humility, and the Quiet Power of Obedience

In today’s Gospel from Luke, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” Maybe you’ve felt like them—overwhelmed, wondering if you’ll ever measure up, maybe even doubting. Jesus answers with what seems like an impossible image: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” He’s not talking about magic tricks or superpowers. He’s saying that real faith, even if it’s tiny, is powerful—because it’s not about how much spiritual energy you can work up, but about trusting God. Even a little genuine trust is enough, because God does the heavy lifting.

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