A Friendship So Real

Pentecost 2019                                                                                                            June 9, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette In college, my favorite job was Raising Cane’s. It was fun and I liked my coworkers. One guy in particular was my favorite to work with. Together, we were the most efficient and effective combination of cooks. His name was Moe, as in Mohammed. He was a devout Muslim. That made things interesting. I learned to respect his faith because it gave him a well-developed sense a duty and responsibility. Islam emphasizes serving God well and it was obvious that...Read More

It’s Not Enough

Ascension Sunday, Year C                                                                                         June 2, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette The Incarnation – God becoming man in Jesus Christ – it is not enough. Jesus teaching and preaching – it is not enough. Jesus suffering and dying on the cross – not enough. His resurrection from the dead – still not enough. When God shows love, there must be more. So, Jesus stays 40 days after conquering death until what we celebrate today: his Ascension into heaven. Then, there is what happens next week. The life of Christ is...Read More

The Hardest Commandment?

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C                                                                                  May 26, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette What is the most difficult commandment to keep? Jesus reminds us that “whoever loves me keeps my word.” Jesus’s words – his commandments – can be challenging. Because of lust, the sixth and ninth commandments are a common struggle. It’s pretty tough to “forgive as you are forgiven.” And who doesn’t wrestle with “love your enemies?” Yet, there is one command that Jesus gives right here, and in a thousand places throughout scripture, that is quite possibly the most...Read More

Daily Collection: Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

The Collect for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter is: "O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection God loves innocence, but we don't have innocence. So, God restores our innocence so that He can take delight in us. Remembering that, we pray for Him...Read More

Dive, Don’t Fall

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C                                                                                  May 19, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette You’ve been lied to… for basically your whole life. You’ve been lied to about love. What it is, how it works. Of course, you’ve also been told the truth. The question is, have you accepted the lie, the truth, or some combination? Jesus says: “love one another.” What is love? Well, what is the lie? It’s the idea that love is some impersonal, magical force that you just have to follow. An attraction and passion which consumes you and...Read More

The “Flow” of Heaven

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C                                                                              May 12, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                               St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” But, why bother? What is the reward of being such a follower? The book of Revelation promises “they will not hunger or thirst,” the “sun” and “heat” will not “strike” them, and “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Those are all great things, but you can buy food and drink, you can pay for air conditioning, and you can even get a dog to make...Read More

The Food of Love

Third Sunday of Easter, Year C                                                                                 May 5, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette “Feed my lambs.” This weekend is first communion for the children in our parish. For the first time, 9 little lambs of are given something to eat by their Lord and Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Through his Church and the hands of his priests, Jesus continues to feed his people with something much better than bread and fish. As the children will tell you, this is no ordinary bread. Yes, it’s a joyful occasion for the children and their families,...Read More
Via Wikimedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_com_GGN.jpg

Daily Collection: Monday of the Second Week of Easter

The Collect for Monday of the Second Week of Easter is: "Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies, transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage, may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection This whole Easter season (the longest one except Ordinary Time) will focus on heavenly things, baptism, and renewal. So, we pray to make the renewal complete by "transcending... our earthly parentage."...Read More

Beyond Doubt

Divine Mercy Sunday                                                                                                 April 28, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Doubting Thomas. Because of what we see today, that’s the unfortunate nickname this Apostle gets. It makes it sound like Thomas was the only one to have doubts. But all of the Apostles were confused and full of doubt until Jesus appears. They are no better at believing than Thomas, they just get the chance to see Jesus first. What, exactly, does Thomas doubt? Or rather, who? Jesus? Not exactly. He believes Jesus once he sees him. No, Thomas is...Read More

Jesus The Savior

Easter Sunday                                                                                                             April 20, 2019Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Who is Jesus? Who is this man that causes us to gather this night/morning? It is precisely that question that we’ve tried to answer over the past three days during what we call the Paschal Triduum. Holy Thursday revealed Jesus the servant who offers worship to God and washes the feet of his disciples, whether they are loyal, cowardly, or even corrupt. Good Friday displayed Christ the sufferer who takes his service so far that he heals those who arrest...Read More