The first 33 episodes of THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT are now available on the KVSS website.  Please click HERE to be taken to the Source and Summit site. The episodes are listed in chronological order at the bottom.

In addition, I will be taking a hiatus from producing episodes during my transition into my position as Pastor of St. Francis Borgia and St. John the Baptist.  New episodes will resume around Christmastime.

Vigil for Peace

Eucharist and Eschatology Resources

Many thanks to Fr. Kevin Vogel for his participation in The Source and Summit.  As referenced in the show, Fr. Vogel has provided his notes for listeners.  To the right, click on "Eucharist and Eschatology Notes...."

In Service....A Reflection on Liturgical Ministry

Every week, men and women stand before your community in the liturgy and minister to you, the people of your parish.  They serve as Eucharistic Ministers, assisting the priest in distributing the Most Precious Body and Blood of our Lord.  They stand at the ambo and proclaim the Word of God, verbalizing the words written so long ago through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  They don the alb and cincture of a servant and serve at the altar. We give thanks to them for their service to God and this parish.

I think it might be good to talk about just what “ministry” means.  There is a distinct and important difference between “minister” and “doer”, and it involves the interior disposition of the person and their understanding of their role.  A person who performs an action without that interior disposition of service and humility is simply a “functionary” – they get something done, but not for the right reason and not with the right heart.  But a person who performs a ministry does so with their heart open to Christ, and joyful in the service they can provide to Him and the Church.  This is what I call the “spirituality of ministry”.  Without a ministry based in a unique spirituality of service, we are simply functionaries and doers.  Where does that spirituality find it’s roots?  In the Gospels, of course.  Take a look at Matthew 20:20-28.  Jesus is asked by the mother of James and John to given them the seats at their right and left in heaven.  Christ, dismissing the idea of “rulers” and “lords” says to them, “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first shall be your slave.”  Perhaps even more importantly, Christ himself modeled this when he washed the feet of his disciples.  “If I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet…no slave is greater than his master.”

The spirituality of ministry is deeply rooted in humility and desire to serve – it can never be rooted in showmanship or seeking self-glory.  A person who seeks to minister must first ask why? Do they want to serve God and the Church?  Do they want to share the gifts God has given to them in service to God?  Those are all excellent reasons.  Or, do they want to show off how great they are at dramatic reading?  Or if I join this choir I’m certain to get a solo so people can finally hear my voice?  Ministry is not and never can be an opportunity to perform.  That is why it is so dangerous when a minister, especially a priest, interjects his personality or changes things to fit his needs.  Then Mass becomes nothing but a “cult of personality” – we like Father X’s Masses because he’s funny, or we like Father Y’s Masses because he uses sock-puppets in his homily.  I hope your priest doesn't do such things, but if he does, you should respectfully approach him about it.

I encourage all of you, whether you are currently ministers in some form or not, to consider what ministry in the church God is calling you to?  Because he IS calling you.  What might you do to give back some of your time and talent to God in humble service of Him?   We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Altar Servers, and I ask each and every one of you to consider ministering to God, and to your brothers and sisters in Christ.

My Good Friday Reflection

My GOOD FRIDAY Reflection....

Most of us are quite familiar with today's readings because every year, on Good Friday, we hear the same readings regarding the Passion of Jesus. During Lent, over and above reconciling ourselves to the Lord God while preparing ourselves for the coming of Easter Sunday that commemorates the glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, we reviewed the events that led to the Passion of the Lord Jesus.

Therefore, there is no necessity for me to review all those events again. Today, I want to look at one short yet poignant phrase. "Why do you strike me?" I find it very difficult to perceive how a human being could dare to strike the face of his God, his Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps some of you have seen the television program about the reconstruction of the face of Jesus from the image of the Shroud of Tourin. Did you see the face of the man that emerged from that reconstruction? The gentleness, the love in the eyes. Jesus was a gentle man who continuously shined in love and mercy throughout His ministry on earth. What crime did Jesus commit to deserve the sentence of the death penalty? What evil acts did He do to antagonize so many to the point that they sought His death without disregard for the value of human life?

We are all very familiar with the Bible passage that says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son..." [Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:9] When we consider the death of Jesus, we automatically associate it with our salvation. We remember that Jesus died for us. We remember that He died for all of our sins. If I was to ask a group of Christians, young or old, "How did Jesus suffer for us?", most likely ninety-nine percent of them would answer, "He died on the cross for us” and that would be true. But while we remember this truth, do we remember the many other sufferings that Jesus willingly endured for us?

Do we remember that Jesus was betrayed by someone that He knew for three years and who He loved? Most of us can associate with the feeling of being betrayed, of losing a friend. One's trust is broken. Friendship comes to an end.

Do we remember the lies that were testified against Jesus?

How about when some of the people spit on Jesus?

When Jesus was repeatedly hit by the palms of peoples hands?

When He was whipped and He shed His Sacred Blood?

When He had a Crown of Thorns placed on His head?

Do we remember when that for our sake, Jesus was stripped of His clothing? What embarrassment He endured for us!

Do we remember when Jesus was mocked as the King of the Jews?

When He was hit on the head with a reed?

When they mocked Jesus by bowing on their knees before Him?
When they casted lots for His vesture?

When He was beaten by the soldiers?

When He had to carry the heavy wooden Cross of our sins while He was in such great pains?

Do we stop and think of the tremendous pains that Jesus must have endured when the nails perforated His tender hands and feet? As soon as we get a sliver in one of our fingers, we complain of the pain. So great is the pain that some appear to be dancing when they are jumping up and down while wiggling their finger. Is not a sliver in the finger counted as nothing when compared to a nail in the palm of the hand?

Do we remember that when Jesus was thirsty, the soldier gave Him a sponge full of vinegar to drink? Have any of us tried drinking vinegar to see what taste it leaves in your mouth afterwards? Would anyone in their right mind give a glass of vinegar to their someone they love?

Who could have imagined this cruelty? Who could have imagined that Jesus would be called to suffer so much for each and everyone of us? Could Mary have imagined it? Could His disciples have imagined it? No, none of them could have imagined the extreme abuse that Jesus endured for each and everyone of us. In fact, they must have all felt helpless against the Romans who were being manipulated by the religious elders. They must have been as scared as Peter was when he denied knowing Jesus. Deep within, they must have been terribly hurt. While we can imagine the hurt of being betrayed by a friend or the hurt that is associated with seeing someone slapped in the face, how much hurt did the Blessed Virgin Mary and the disciples of Jesus endure in their hearts when they saw the abuse that was afflicted upon the Lord? None of them could have imagined that the earthly life of Jesus would come to such an end.

About two thousand years ago, Jesus asked, "Why do you strike me?" Is He asking us the same thing today? Do we strike at Jesus? While we may not strike at Him physically, do we wound His Sacred Heart by our failure to strive against the sinful nature? When we fall short of showing love towards others, are we betraying our Lord? When we refuse to feed the hungry, are we not starving Jesus? When we turn away the strangers, are we not turning away Jesus? When we refuse to take care of the sick or refuse to visit the prisoners, are we not ignoring Jesus? We can scorn Judas for taking 30 pieces of silver to betray our Lord, but don’t we take far less when we betray God in our sin? Don’t we usually do it for free?

My brothers and sisters, Jesus said in the Gospels, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Last week, last month or last year, was I guilty of striking Jesus when I struck someone else? How blessed we are that the merciful Lord Jesus has given us the Sacrament of Confession so we may cleanse our souls of the offenses that we have personally committed against Him. Today and tomorrow, as recommended by the Church, we are participating in a fast to honour the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare ourselves to share more deeply in the joy of His glorious Resurrection. When going home today, let us not forget the details of how Jesus suffered for us before He died on the Holy Cross. Let us never forget it! And let us forever be thankful to Jesus for having carried the Cross of our sins for our salvation and eternal happiness.

On March 7, the Source and Summit will welcome special guest Fr. Michael Voithofer of St. James Parish in Omaha.  Fr. Voithofer will join me for a conversation looking at the pastoral and practical applications of the Sacrament of Baptism.  We'll see you Monday at 9:30 am!

Alright my friends - we're off!  The first two weeks have aired and I've received some great comments from you.  Keep them coming.

I think the issue of grace and our openness to it and willingness to accept it is key to our personal conversion.  In the first reading at Mass today, Moses tells us very plainly, "Choose life or death."  What is associated with life?  Prosperity, happiness, hope, love.  What is associated with death?  Doom, despair, pain, suffering, agony.  What kind of choice is that?  Who in their right mind, honestly, would ever choose to take the path away from God?  But we always must remember - the choices we make result in our sharing in the gifts of the Paschal Mystery.  If we choose to depart from God, then we will not have eternal life.  If we choose God, we will share in the salvation wrought by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus.

Next week will be our beginning to the Sacrament of Baptism.  Question to ponder : Why is Baptism the "gateway" sacrament?  And how are we "born again" in Baptism.  I'll see you next Monday, 9:30 am, on the Spirit Catholic Radio Network!   www.spiritcatholicradio.com