Podcast

His Excellency, Thomas Daly, Auxiliary Bishop of San Jose, preaches the Mass of Confirmation in Memorial Church.

The Resurrected Lord's first words to us are, "Peace be with you".  What is peace?  How is the Doubting Thomas in instrument of peace? 

Father Nathan offers a meditation on Jesus' Ressurection according to the Gospel of Mark.  Happy Easter! 

Of many things we commemorate on this Mass of the Lord's Supper, one is the generosity of our God.

The man born blind was recreated as Adam was created in the Genesis account.  The man saw this and believed.  In fact, he sees better than those who were born able to see.  What are we blind to?  Are we so entrenched in what we think as true that we cannot see the unknowable God in a different way? 

Today's are dramatic yet terrible readings.  Religion, in fact, would be much safer if we can form God as we would like.  But we need God, not a kitchen waiter.

Let us not rush on towards Easter, but rather, let us contemplate the lessons of Lent.

This weekend, we are having the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick offered at our Masses; Fr Nathan challenges us to allow Jesus to heal all of our infirmities.

A prophet has arisen in our midst!  A prophet is not a person that predicts the future, but rather, a person that enfleshes the word of God in today's time & place.  How are we prophets of our God?

Today is the oldest I've ever been.  Or the youngest.  God is always teaching us, reminding us that we are his children.  What will he teach you today?  Listen in and perhaps you'll find out!

God is eternally young, always wanting to open presents and be generous.  Are you as generous in your heart?  What would you like for Christmas?  What would you like to be?

God wants our involvement in His creative projects for our lives, no matter our age or past achievements. Are we too set on our own ideas or can we give God the freedom of our consent as Mary did, to begin anew or a new thing, no matter our stage in life?

There are many contradictions in Catholicism.  One is how to prepare ourselves for someone that is already here.  

Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, reigned by service and love.  We are called to serve and love, not only on days of abundace, but on days of destitution as well.

The phrase "The End" has two meanings: (1) the actual end of a thing and (2) the purpose of a thing.  Live the end of your life with a purpose, so when you complete you life, you can look back on your life with God's purpose in mind. 

Catherine Wolff, who has recently returned from her trip to Eastern Africa with Catholic Relief Services, shares her experiences with the Catholic Community at Stanford. 

Seeing the context of today's Gospel, Father Nathan reminds us of Jesus' promise to be with us till the end.

In the light of the 9/11 tragedy, Fr. Nathan reflects on the cost of the call to forgiveness and Jesus's own words and example. We are invited to prayerful and consciously reflect on interpretations of violence from sacred scripture.

Who do you say that I am?  What do you do because I am who you say that I am?

Saint Dominic, the Patron of Order of Preachers and the Catholic Community at Stanford, was a man of steadfastness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

All of us desire spiritual experiences. However spiritual experiences have after effects and change us. Spiritual experiences cost us much. Do we dare sell our possession to buy this pearl of great price?

Jesus told the parable of the sower. "Anyone who hears the word and heeds it will bear fruit in abundance." Do you really listen, or think you are? Ask the sower, the lover, to speak in you, because you do have ears.

We may describe the Eucharist as many things.  Today, let us focus on the fact that the Eucharist is Apostolic.

Fr. Nathan reflects on the apostles' response to the Ascension. Like the apostles, are we too self-centered in our contemplation of the divine but forgetting our call and mission to preach the good news? Do we allow the Holy Spirit freedom to lead us, even if it throws us off-balance?

We already have been set apart, chosen by God, already the next big thing. Our destiny is to be the personification of joy and peace in this world.

Brother Kevin Andrew talks about his call into the Dominican life.

The story of Emmaus asks to ponder who we are journeying with.  Are we willing to allow people into our journey, into our struggles of faith, into our lives?

Father Nathan's homily during the Easter Vigil.  Please be forewarned that we had experienced a minor technical difficulty when recording this particular part of the vigil, so we ask you to be patient.

Father Nathan's homily for the Mass of the Lord's Supper, Holy Thursday, 2011.

The Lazarus story is the turning point in John's Gospel.  It's where Jesus calls out his beloved friend to live full life of the Gospel.  Are we willing to live this same life?  Are we willing to live the Gospel?

Giving into sin clouds our judgment and our view of the world, the Church and God. May we pierce the clouds of darkness in this holy season

The Sacraments are transformative.  The Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation, at every participation, brings us closer to Christ.  As we begin Lent anew, let us take advantage of such wonderful gifts!

We have high expectations of ourselves.  However, oftentimes, these expectations make us feel or believe that we are Atlas.  But we aren't Atlas, we're children of a Heavenly Father, one that will provide for us whenever we call upon him.

In addition to Fr. Isaiah's homily, we will hear from Mr. Tom Zanzig from Zanzig and Associates.  He will speak to us about our Center for Spiritual and Religious Formation, as well as a possible Lenten practice that will aid and deepen our Christian Spirituality.

Freedom is not merely choosing between X or Y, but rather, chosing what is more excellent for me.  May we chose Jesus Christ, who is Excellence Personified.

Saint Thomas Aquinas defines humility as a person seeing God as God sees him or her.  Let us put aside our false notion of humility, and be "poor in spirit".

When John the Baptist baptized his cousin, his entire life transformed.  What about us?  How have our lives ben transformed by encountering Jesus Christ?

God is the Giver of All Good Gifts.  He lavishes us with his gifts, especially the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.  What are you hungry to receive this Christmas? 

"Are you the one we're waiting for, or ought we wait for another?"

Jesus encourages the followers of John the Baptist to tell John what they see--including the dead being raised.  Fr. Nathan shares a story about a dear friend who died in September, and, in particular, some crystal wine glasses they shared. 

The Advent wreath reminds us that we can offerthe light of Christ's birth to those who are in the dark or are broken.

The Prophet Isaiah tries to put God's dream into words.  For generations, humanity has beeen trying to reach up towards God, setting up altars and holy places on high mountains.  Yet we celebrate that God has come down to us.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a good example of this, when God comes down to us to have an intimate relationship with us.  And we know what impact that can cause.  Now imagine the impact we may have on others--people we may not even know--by rejoicing in our relationship wtih God.

On this Christ the King Sunday, we are challenged to learn what kind of power Jesus Christ possesses.  Jesus Christ shows us with his power a new way of being, not one of domination. 

It is quite easy to let a person disappear by labling him or her "tax collector" or "illegal immigrant" or "terrorist".  Yet each one of us is a child of God.  It is difficult to write each other off when we know each other's name and heart.

Namaan, the great General from the Syrian Army, and the Samaritan Leper had the graciousness to say thank you to God for their healing.  Though outsiders, they did what no other 'insider' would do.  According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Eucharist is the medicine for the soul.  Are we thankful enough for this wonderful gift?

Relationships take time to develop.  Lazarus and the rich man had a relationship, but one constituted of apathy.  How many people do we know by name, but instead of treating them as a human being, ignore them as the rich man did Lazarus?

Families are messy things.  Yet mysteriously and profoundly, families are are road to love God and one another.  May we be a true brother, sister, father or mother to all, and bring them to Christ.

Mary of Nazareth, when her time on earth had ended, was assumed, body and soul, into heaven.  This reward was not given to her merely because she was the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus.  Rather, it was because of her continual fidelity to, and love for, God.  May we continually be devoted to Jesus Christ as she!

We oftentimes have our own plans and vision of the road ahead. But Jesus’ plans are oftentimes different than ours. He calls us to drink a cup full of joys, sufferings and gifts that we cannot ever imagine. It’s easy to want Jesus to take this the cup away. Yet, Jesus gave us an example, a life, to do the God the Father’s will. By partaking in the Eucharist, we remember how much Jesus cares for us – so much so that He has given us his very self.

Without the Spirit of God, we are like the dry bones of Ezekiel’s vision. By the Spirit of God, we are fully alive, the People of God. God’s Spirit always triumphs over all our trials, no matter how daunting. With our busy lives, how do we allow the Breathe of Life, the Holy Spirit, to enliven and empower us?