Fr Mike's Notes

Unfortunately, while I took video of the sunset, my phone software might be a tad ancient because when I tried to send the video to my email, it said the file was too large.  So if that is the case, how do people upload videos that are much longer than one minute.  I guess I will have to go to the shore again in the coming days and take another but shorter video. The thing that is still quite awesome to me is that once the sun hits the horizon, it's gone within 90 seconds.  I don't know if that is from season to season, but it was absolutely amazing.  There is still that healthy glow from beyond the horizon turning in some orange and red and even some brownish coloring of the sky.  A few days ago, as I was driving home from Saturday evening Mass and continued to drive west, the incredible colors that filled the sky were jaw-dropping.  I know I've seen these things before.  My issue is that most of the time I've been heading home, sunset had already hap...

Each year, the first Sunday of Lent is known as Temptation Sunday because in the three year cycle of the gospels, we hear the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert.   Well, that is this weekend.  Of course, we are supposed to always resist temptation to sin.  Temptation is not simple however.  It may seem to be.  Just say no, right?  In theory, that is correct.  But you know something, Satan, as we hear about in the gospel, is pretty slick at turning our attention to our appetites - our passions - things that are pleasing to the senses.  Remember Adam and Eve?  That apple looked SO good to Eve, so she took it and gave it to Adam.  That's not a slam on Eve.  Read the story again.  "The serpent tricked me."  That's what Satan does.  He watches constantly for material possessions we think we need but really we WANT.  And resisting that takes a lot of heart. My biggest temptation right now has to be to ...

I received an email the other day from a good friend.  A text from another friend.  They tell me people are asking them about if anyone has heard from me and how I am doing.  Well, I won't lie and say that everything is going along as planned, but it's going well in general. In terms of my health, I have been catching up on years of sleep I was missing due to apnea.  I had been diagnosed last year around this time with a medium case of apnea after having been diagnosed with a mild case about 10 years before.  Since it had gone to another level, it was time for the CPAP machine.  Even though I have had it for months, my usage was not perfect.  It would come off sometimes in the middle of the night without my knowledge and I would awaken sometimes 2-3 hours after it happened.  Sometimes I would put it back on and try to get more sleep, sometimes I was too lazy or I figured it was too close to my alarm going off.  I know that sounds foolish, let...

 Ash Wednesday 2026 is here and it really couldn't come at a better time for me.  If I can get into a mood and a mode that I normally would be, then I may be able to take down some of the demons that haunt me.  Let me explain why Lent is so important to me. For many years I have been saying that I believe that the Crucifixion of Jesus is the single greatest and most profound event in human history.  Others have disagreed (in a healthy manner) with my view.  I have heard that Creation, Creation of Man, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and parting of the Red Sea, the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and many others not part of Scripture.  While many of these I've mentioned are amazing and mind-blowing events, the Crucifixion stands above them all.  It's not about man's part in the event, but simply on Jesus' part.   Jesus, upon being born and persecuted practically from the beginning simply finds the courage each day to go out to the people a...

 ...developments around these Southwestern parts.  They involve people. Many of you would likely suspect that being a person that values relationships, being down here in San Diego is a bit daunting.  Getting to know the students is pretty cool and I have a great professor.  However, I had not found anyone to share even a regular meal with and I've tried.  I've been to bars for some of the football games.  Even at church, there had not been anyone who seemed to be interested in even getting to know someone new.  That being said, Within just days of each other, I have two contacts.  The first is someone I saw at church a couple of weeks ago, but before I could say anything to him, he left.  This past Saturday, I met him.  The gentleman is someone who used to be a religious brother from the same order that ran the undergraduate college I attended.  We didn't know each other, but I found out that he was a teacher in years past at a (no...

" Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own." This verse from the first reading from the prophet Isaiah in essence lays the groundwork for what the Church has known as the Corporal Works of Mercy.  I know I once had them memorized but my brain is not as sharp as it once was.  Therefore, I did what any sane individual would do - I "Googled" it.  I recognized feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and giving alms to the poor.  Giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, and burying the dead are the others.  It may come as a shock to many that these works are still very valid in the everyday life of human beings.  What do they do for us, though? When did someone ever minister to you in one of these ways? I had to think about that one about visiting prisoners.  I don't know that I ever have ministered AT a prison; however,...

Sorry for missing a few days again.  It has been difficult to find real inspiration of things to write about.  Some of you have been asking if I have been making friends with other students in the class and what that has been like.  In general, I feel like the students respect me and why I am there.  I gave my presentation earlier this week (the only one of the the class for me).  The students seemed interested, had some good comments and questions, and grateful for my thoughts.  Not everyone in the class is Christian.  And that is really why this is a great class for me.  Just yesterday (Feb 4), I was sitting in front of a young student who is an exchange student from Japan.  So when we were told to get into small groups, it was just us.  She was very interesting and pleasant. Have I made real friends?  I wouldn't say so.  Last Saturday evening, I went to Mass with the added agenda to hopefully meet someone to just have dinner...