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The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time If we want to find out what love really is we have to peer into the heart and mind of God. In God’s eyes and understanding, love is total giving of oneself and asking for nothin in return. God invented love. He will make it work. If we will be faithful to him, if we make the decision to love the way he calls us to, he will take over. Love is a powerful dynamic. The Lord wants us to love those who are close. He wants us to know that love is a decision. It’s nice when there are feelings. But, love is a decision and a gift. We make the decision, he gives the gift. We have to make the decision every day to love those around us in a special way. Jesus wants us to get serious about love and to love those we are called to love. Deep down inside most of us don’t believe we’re loveable. We believe the lie that we are no good. So, it’s hard for us to accept the Lord’s love because we don’t think we deserve it. The only condition of God’s love is receiving it. He wants us to love one another just the way he has loved us. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on October 28, 1990. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Give the Lord the green light to move in any way, to change your life. He’s not finished with you. Tell him he can change your direction in any way at all. He can change your priorities. Can we tell him that he is free to move in any direction he wants? *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on October 21, 1990. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time He is near to all who call. He is gracious, merciful, and compassionate. He’s generous. He’s waiting for all of us to continue making the response to his call. He never stops calling. Today, he is calling each one of us to something more. Call to him while he is still near! *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on September 19, 1999. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

When the Good News is presented with prayer, the Lord puts an anointing on it. God’s grace will stir. When we invite God in, he comes in. When we ask him to show up, he shows us. When we tell him that he’s welcome to be part of this assembly and to take over, he takes over! That’s the way it works. When we open our hearts to the Lord, and invite him to take over, the adventure begins; the adventure of walking hand in hand with the Lord. Open up your heart and let the Lord take over. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus is the only way to salvation. Without his saving death, and resurrection from the dead, there would be no salvation for anybody. He is calling all of us to be disciples. Discipleship is total commitment. What makes a disciple is the decision to carry out the Lord’s priorities day after day. Disciples make the Lord’s priorities their priorities. If we decide to follow Jesus’ invitation to be disciples, he will give us a taste of who and what he really is. Once we’ve had that, nothing else is the same again. Once we perceive Jesus for who he really is, the only response that makes sense is total. Anything else is insane. When we become disciples our lifestyles change, our priorities change, our conversations change… If you want to be his disciple, pick up your cross and follow Jesus. The call from Jesus is to be total for him. There is a cost, but the rewards are incredible. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on August 30, 1987. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus is still asking us, “Who am I?” Every single human being on Earth is being asked that question. It’s the single most important question in our history. Those that ‘leave’ have not dealt with the question. When we deal with the question, God deals with us. We get turned around as we open the gates of our lives to him. If you don’t have the answer to that question, now is the time to seek it. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on August 23, 1987. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Word of God challenges us. The Word of God can do many things. The Word of God is so compelling that it can melt the hardest heart, that it can penetrate the toughest ego. God wants to find you today. He wants you to find him. Do you want to know the Lord? Give him a chance. Open your heart. Give it over to the Lord. The answer is Jesus. The Lord is present. He is real. We can trust in him. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on August 5, 1990. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time It is possible to do the will of God, even in the midst of this world. You can experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God right in the midst of the world. Experiencing the Kingdom comes from doing the will of God, and not you own. It comes from seeking his plan and carrying it out. It doesn’t come from saying, “Oh Lord, please bless my plans.” The Kingdom of God comes from searching out his opinion. You can have the Kingdom of God reigning in your life right now by choosing to do his will. There is nothing as good as living in the Kingdom of God right here. It’s fantastic. It’s amazing. There is nothing like the Kingdom of God. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on July 22, 1990. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

*Note: This clip of Fr. Bob is from his TV show that was hosted on Food for Life. There will be no podcast for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Lord calls people to follow him and take up tasks that he has in mind. This is the normal way that God deals with people. He will inspire you! Why do we fight the will of God? The will of God works and it’s the only thing worth doing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus has a way of entering into our burdens and taking them away, or healing them all together, or picking them up and carrying most of them. Jesus wants us to know him first of all. Knowing him and being strengthened by him can help bring meaning. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on July 8, 1990. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Gospel is alive now. It isn’t just a historical record; it’s not just a historical document. It’s not just stories and records. It’s a living word, something that is going on now. The Gospel is alive today! God’s power is available now, just as it was during the resurrection. Jesus is risen from the dead now. Jesus called people to make the commitment to follow him then. He’s calling us to do the same now, today. I don’t know what space you’re in. I don’t know whether you’ve heard these things before. I don’t know if you’ve tuned into the power of God that comes off the pages of scripture. But, God wants us to know him as alive and powerful right now. That’s his intention. It always has been. A lot of people have need of God’s direct ministry today. Our lack of faith is the only thing that prevents God from doing what he wants to do among his people. He wants to touch our lives. He loves us! Jesus is calling us, right now, to an all out commitment to him. He’s calling us to turn everything over to him. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on June 28, 1987. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

The 12 Sunday in Ordinary Time Being well fathered is a deep human need. It is the father who gives identity to his children. He’s got to relate to his children, affirm them, and correct them when they need correcting. His children need attention and care from him. We all have a Father in Heaven who is close to us. One of Jesus’ main tasks was to reveal his Father, our Father. Our Father is the creator, designer, and maker of everything. He loves us. He can do things in our lives if we let him. If we can accept the fulness of God’s love, we will be truly free. Will you accept his love? *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on June 20, 1999. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

*Note: This clip of Fr. Bob is from his TV show that was hosted on Food for Life. There will be no podcast for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. When we proclaim the Good News some people will respond. That’s the way God works. He’s told us to do this and he intends to back it up. Evangelization is a three step process: * We proclaim * The listener responds * The Lord intervenes It’s something that we start and God finishes. It works. God’s plan always works. He has not left his people. He is not tired. The Holy Spirit is here and ready to go to work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

What does it mean that Jesus left himself in the Eucharist, in the Blessed Sacrament? Why has God done that? He did it because he loves us and he wants to be with us. He loves us. One of the deepest problems we have as humans is that we don’t like ourselves. God knows us just the way we are. There is nothing hidden from him. He knows our past. He knows the whole thing and he loves us anyway. That’s the point of Corpus Christi. God loves you. Corpus Christi says, ‘I love you and I want to be with you.’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com

Trinity Sunday (Year A) Each person of the Trinity has a distinct role. * The Father is the boss. His will matters. * Jesus is the bridge between us and the Father. Through Jesus, we are able to get to the Father. * The Holy Spirit’s role is to get things done. Each person of the Trinity has different and distinct roles. Yet, they are perfectly one in perfect harmony. The Holy Spirit will teach you and tell you who Jesus is. The Holy Spirit will speak in your heart. He will testify to you. Many are mystified about who priests are, what they do, and what they are all about. It has a lot to do with God. We are delighted to be who we are. We are delighted to be the priests of God. We are delighted to be the fathers of the family of God. We are delighted to be shepherds and all that that entails. It’s not always easy, but it’s always good. It’s an exciting time to be a priest. *This homily was originally given at St. Mary’s Parish in Ottawa, ON on June 6, 1993. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.givegodpermission.com