10-13-24 - 28th Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 10/08/24

28th Sunday - Fr. Leo

Wisdom is the greatest of life's treasures.  Wisdom brings us into the realm of God where we value and live for her goodness in our lives.  In the Book of Wisdom today it starts, “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit ... Read More »

10-06-24 27th Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 10/01/24

27th Sunday - Fr. Leo

When I approach the stories of creation in Genesis, to understand them, I remind myself that it is written in the genre of Myth.  By understanding it as Myth, is not to say it is untrue.  It is true, but in a different way than we ... Read More »

9-29-24 26th Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 9/24/24

26th Sunday - Fr. Leo

Both our first reading from Numbers and our passage from Mark’s gospel, show how the Spirit is beyond human control.  When the Lord took a portion of Moses spirit and gave it to the seventy elders it also reached Eldad and Medad who were ... Read More »

9-15-24 - 24th Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 9/10/24

24th Sunday - Fr. Leo

Our reading from Isaiah and from Psalm 116, celebrates a God who hears the cry of his people and stands up for the just.  “I was brought low, and He saved me.”  “I called on the name of the Lord, and he saved my ... Read More »

9-08-24 23rd Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 8/29/24

23rd Sunday - Fr. Leo

“He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus cured people physically and spiritually.  This same Jesus stands before every person at this very moment to heal them of their infirmities.  What makes this doable is the faith of ... Read More »

9-01-24 - 22nd Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 8/27/24

22nd Sunday - Fr. Leo

In today’s scriptures, Jesus critiques religion. Religion is to serve the Spirit in brining people into God’s love. However, sometimes it can be misused to serve religious leaders or other political agendas. This is very clear in the Gospel when Jesus counters the Pharisees and ... Read More »

8-25-24 - 21st Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 8/20/24

21st Sunday - Fr. Leo

Reaffirming faith in God is the theme that runs through today’s scriptures.  Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel to have them choose whom they will follow.  The God who leads them out of Egypt or another.  Quickly, they reaffirm their faith in the God of their fathers.

The same happens in the Gospel.  Jesus tests his follower’s faith and calls them to embrace the unbelievable. Many left him, but the disciples reaffirm their faith when they choose not to leave Jesus and say, “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of ... Read More »

8-18-24 - 20th Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 8/13/24

20th Sunday - Fr. Leo

The Scriptures of the last few Sundays have carried the same theme.  Jesus as the Bread of Life.  We hear these same words today.  And on one level, they are still strange.  Strange, because we can not rationally understand the Mystery of God.  Preaching is difficult, because we ... Read More »

8-11-24 - 19th Sunday OT B - Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 7/31/24

19th Sunday - Fr. Leo

Around the world, the Catholic Church is engaged in a Eucharistic revival.  Last moth, Indianapolis hosted thousands of religious and laity for a week of renewal and celebration of the Eucharist. Our Archdiocese is offering many opportunities to participate in special events centered around the Eucharist.

The value of these efforts is not the rituals alone, though they are imperative.  What is important. is the presence of Christ that is experienced in our celebrations.  The Eucharist isn’t magic, it is ultimate mystery. Christ who always was, is and will be, left his physical body and sent us the gifts of the Holy Spirit through which the eternal Christ comes to live in us and continue his loving mission of healing and reconciling through ... Read More »

8-04-24 - Suggested Reading by Fr. Leo Schneider

Posted by Jennifer Stephan on 7/30/24

Suggested Reading by Fr. Leo

Below is a list of books I would recommend for Spiritual Reading with short descriptions.

The it Guide to (almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin.  This book makes the Jesuit Ignatian Spirituality accessible to everyday living.  A clear way to use ... Read More »