SJBExcelsior Podcast

"The Church is the sheepfold whose one and indispensable door is Christ." - Lumen Gentium

Fr. Josh Brown dives into the significance of Baptism on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord this past Sunday.

During the Advent season, we hear a recurring theme of light. Light helps us to see clearly, through darkness.

Advent is a time to rekindle the flame inside us - the living flame of our relationship with Christ. When we do this, we put on the armor of Christ and it transforms us.

Souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves. That duty falls to us. Deacon Michael gives us four simple things we can do to assist the souls in purgatory:

1. During the 7 days following All Souls' Day there is a plenary indulgence applicable to the souls in purgatory when you visit a cemetery and fulfill the necessary requirements for a plenary indulgence: https://seton-parish.org/plenary-indulgences-for-all-souls-week-and-the-month-of-november#:~:text=Visiting%20a%20Cemetery%3A%20Visiting%20a,only%20mentally%2C%20for%20the%20departed.
2. Pray the Rosary for them.
3. Have Masses said for those who have passed away.
4. Pray St. Gertrude's prayer: https://prayforsouls.org/ways/prayers/st-gertrude

Fr. Carlson shares how God is at work here at St. John's.

Don’t grow weary in prayer, especially in challenging times. Go to the Lord, he’s going to help.

Psalm 121 - I will raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

We’re not battling by ourselves. The Lord is with us.

Fr. Carlson concludes his homily series on gratitude.

Fr. Carlson begins a two-part homily series on gratitude.

There is an obvious call from Jesus in this past Sunday's parable of Lazarus and the rich man, but there is a deeper spiritual understanding as well.

Jesus addresses this parable to the Pharisees, and is calling them, and us, to conversion. He is the Lazarus in the story, the one the rich man does not want to see. He has come to save them, but they have closed their eyes to him and want none of it.

The invitation for us to to consider today as the time of conversion. Don't wait until tomorrow. Jesus longs for us to be in relationship with Him today.

Fr. Carlson dives into the often misunderstood Parable of the Dishonest Steward. Does Jesus commend the dishonesty of the steward? No, rather, he is pointing out something deeper.