Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

When Peter makes a profound statement of faith and openness to the Spirit, Jesus does not simply offer words of praise but instead grants him complete authority over his future mission.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on August 27, 2023.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The persistent pleadings of a Canaanite woman cause Jesus to appreciate the depths of her faith, and he cures her daughter from a distance at that very moment.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on August 20, 2023.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

As Christianity began to separate itself from Judaism in the second century AD, Christians used this text to argue that the Jew's refusal to accept Jesus as the messiah resulted in God's covenant being extended to Gentile believers.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on July 16, 2023.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This is a call for radical discipleship! We are told that we must love Jesus more than father or mother and son or daughter. We must be willing to take up our crosses and follow Jesus even to death.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on July 2, 2023.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Because of their identity as followers of God, the disciples are cared for by God. They must act in a manner that illustrates this, trusting in God and remaining in him.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on June 25, 2023.

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Jesus continuously invites us to shjare in this eucharistic experience so that we can remain in him and he in us.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on June 11, 2023.

The Most Holy Trinity

The point of this reading is that God is so generous and unconditional with divine love that he is willing to give his only Son to effect salvation for the whole world.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on June 4, 2023.

Pentecost Sunday of Easter

The statement "Receive the Holy Spirit" should recall for us the Genesis story when God creates a man, Adam, and breathes into him the breath of life and he "became a living being".

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm on May 27, 2023.

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Jesus states clearly that the prayer he utters is to benefit those who have believed in him. He does not pray for the world as a whole, because the world has not accepted him or the Father's message that he reveals.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm on May 20, 2023.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Ongoing divine revelation is made known by keeping the commandments and persevering in the love of the Lord. Doing these things also expresses the theological theme of remaining iin the Lord as a description of Christian life.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm on May 13, 2023.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

For readers of the Gospel who are unable to see Jesus in the flesh, trusting in their faith and accomplishing great works in his name ought to be signs enough that the Son and the Father are one.  Those who see with eyes of faith see the way, the truth, and the life; this sight is far greater than anything perceived by human sight alone.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 12:00 pm on May 7, 2023.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Jesus refers to himself as a "gate" that protects the sheep and keeps "thieves and robbers" away from the sheep.  This reference applies to salvation, as those who pass through the gate, namely those who come to believe in Jesus and hear his voice, will have access to the Father.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on April 30, 2023.

Third Sunday of Easter

At a meal with two of his disciples, the a man they had met took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.  Their eyes were opened and they recognized that this man was the risen Jesus.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on April 23, 2023.

Second Sunday of Easter.

The risen Jesus appears again after eight days  to respond to Thomas' demand to see the risen Jesus' wounds. The blessing from Jesus is driected toward those who have not seen  but believe.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 10:30 am on April 16, 2023.

Palm Sunday

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on April 2, 2023.

Fifth Sunday of Lent.

Jesus coud have avoided the tragedy of Lazarus' death by coming as soon as Mary and Martha called for him. Or is that the point of the story: to show that Jesus could raise the dead, even as the act of resuscitating Lazarus will lead directly to his own death?

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm March 25, 2023.

Fourth Sunday of Lent.

As light of the world, Jesus' mission is one of judgment, not against people who are physically blind, but against those who are spiritually blind and who refuse to recognize Jesus' true identity.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm March 18, 2023.

Third Sunday of Lent.

When the villages meet Jesus and hear his words, they proclaim him to be "the savior of the world".

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm March 11, 2023.

Second Sunday of Lent.

The disciples are so awestruck by the heaveny voice that prostrate themselves in reverence. Although some biblical scholars interpret the scene to be a preview of the resurrection, it is first and foremost a theophany, a manifestation of the divine Jesus, the Son of God.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 10:30 am on March 5, 2023.

First Sunday of Lent.

Satan's temptations are tests of God's willingness, as Son of God, to rely on God alone for nourishment, protection, and safety.  There is a cause for rejoicing in Jesus's responses because, unlike the dialogue between Eve and the serpent, Jesus wins this debate! 

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on Feburary 26, 2023.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

We continue to hear from the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus focuses on two basic Christian attitudes: acting with selflessness and loving one's enemies.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on February 19,, 2023.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Jesus continues his teaching to his followers by addressing the thorny issues of adultery, divorce, and lying.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 12:00 pm on February 12, 2023.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In mentioning "kingdom" Jesus is not talking about a place. Instead we should think about kingdom as the reign of God., when God's power is fully manifest for all to see and when there is no more hunger or violence, sickness or death in all the world. Such is the good news of Jesus Christ!

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm on January 21, 2023.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the Lamb of God and Son of God only because it was revealed to him through the work he was commissioned to do.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 12:00 pm on January 15, 2023.

The Epiphany of the Lord.

This passage illustrates the universalism of God's revelation. It is not insiders from the Jewish establishment who recognize and pay homage to the newborn babe: instead foreigners come "from the east" to offer their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 9:00 am on January 8, 2023.

Mary, The Holy Mother of God.

Today we repeat the proclamation of the Gospel for the Mass of the Nativity at dawn, with the addition of the verse that announces the naming of Jesus at the time of his circumcision.In the context of today's feast, we are meant to focus particular attention on the figure of Mary.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 4:30 pm on December 31, 2022.

The Nativity of the Lord.

John's prologue places us before the symbol of Christ as the true Lighht of the World.  In these days of winter darkness, the Church holds on to the hope that Christ's light will endure; there is no darkness that the light of Christ cannot dispel.

Recording is of a Mass offered at 14 Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, NY at 12:00 pm on December 25, 2022.