Faithful & Authentic: The All Saints Parish Podcast

What Can Yeast Teach You About God? | Alive

The Kingdom of God often begins with something small.
In this week’s Alive reflection, Fr. Meyer shares a childhood memory of making homemade pizza dough with his family and connects it to one of Jesus’ shortest—but most powerful—parables.
Just as a little yeast transforms an entire batch of dough, God wants to transform your life. He doesn’t want you to stay the same. He wants you to grow, multiply, and become who He created you to be.
This week, ask yourself:Where is God inviting me to grow?
📖 Watch the reflection, then use the discussion questions below or at allsaintscatholic.net to pray and discuss with family or friends.
Be a saint. Be the difference.
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Matthew 13:24-30What is the message or story?What is the Good News in this passage?Have you ever grown a garden?  Did you ever pull weeds?Do weeds look like the plants you are desiring to grow?  How does this relate to today’s passage?Do weeds often have prickers or thorns?  How does this relate to today’s passage?In our world, we as Christians live among weeds, we live among evil, how is this a challenge?What effects does living among weeds bring about?What will happen to the weeds at the end of the world?In horticulture, can a weed turn into wheat?  What about in Jesus’s mind? It is hard to live among weeds, who do you know that needs help? Act today.

ALIVE | Keep Planting Seeds—God Brings the Harvest

Welcome to ALIVE, Fr. Jonathan Meyer’s weekly reflection to help you prepare for Sunday’s Mass.
 
This week, Jesus’ Parable of the Sower reminds us that we are called to faithfully scatter the seeds of the Gospel. But what happens when we never see the results?
 
Drawing from a recent priest convocation and his own experiences as a runner, Fr. Meyer reflects on the quiet beauty of planting seeds of faith, hope, and love—even when the ground seems rocky and the fruit is hidden from our eyes. God can bring life where we least expect it, and He often uses the smallest acts of faith to accomplish extraordinary things.
 
Don’t grow discouraged. Keep planting. Keep trusting. God is always at work.
 
Discussion questions for this Sunday’s readings are included below. Share this reflection with a friend or gather a small group to discuss how God is calling you to sow seeds of faith this week.
Gospel Discussion Questions:
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Matthew 13: 1-9What is the message or story?What is the Good News in this passage?When this passage speaks of Jesus walking out of a house and sitting by the sea, what does that look like to you?  Can you describe the scene?How many people do you think were in the “large crowd?”What is the definition of a parable?  Can you name some of Jesus' famous parables?When has your life been like the path, the rocky ground, seeds among thorns, or rich soil?What are the birds in our culture that eat the seeds of life?What has helped you to till the soil to be receptive?What witnesses do you have in your life that have borne much fruit and bear a hundred, sixty or thirty-fold?
#ALIVE #SundayGospel #ParableOfTheSower #Catholic #Faith #Hope #FrJonathanMeyer

Jesus Gave You His Heart… Will You Give Him Yours? | Opening Mass | Intense Youth Conference

Welcome to the Intense Youth Conference!
Celebrated on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Jonathan Meyer opens Intense with a powerful invitation to encounter the living Christ. Sharing the story of his own conversion, Fr. Meyer reminds us that Jesus doesn’t simply want us to know about Him—He wants a personal relationship with each one of us.
At every Mass, Jesus gives us everything: His Body, His Blood, and His Sacred Heart. The question is simple:
Will you give Him your heart in return?
Whether you’re attending Intense for the first time or have been here for years, this homily is an invitation to surrender your life to Jesus Christ and discover the love that changes everything.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
#IntenseYouthConference #FrJonathanMeyer #SacredHeart #Catholic #CatholicYouth #HolyMass #Eucharist #JesusChrist #EncounterJesus #CatholicHomily #CatholicFaith #Adoration #YouthConference #BeASaint

What Happened with the Society of St. Pius X? A Catholic Explanation

Over the past several days, many parishioners have asked what recently happened with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) and why there has been so much discussion surrounding the ordination of bishops without papal approval.
In this video, Fr. Jonathan Meyer explains:
The history of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX)
Why the events of July 1 trace back to 1988 and earlier
What automatic excommunication means
Why apostolic succession and communion with the Pope are essential to the Catholic Church
The difference between the SSPX and communities that celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass while remaining in full communion with the Catholic Church
Why this situation is about ecclesial unity and obedience—not simply about the Latin Mass
This is a sad moment for the Church and an opportunity for all Catholics to pray for healing, unity, and reconciliation.
As Fr. Jonathan reminds us, our love for the Church is expressed through communion with the successor of St. Peter and fidelity to the apostolic faith handed down through the ages.
Please continue to pray for the Holy Father, for the Church, and for all those seeking full communion with Christ and His Church.
#CatholicChurch #SSPX #SocietyOfStPiusX #Pope #CatholicTeaching #ApostolicSuccession #FrJonathanMeyer #CatholicFaith #Unity

ALIVE | Come to Me… and I Will Give You Rest

Welcome to ALIVE with Fr. Jonathan Meyer!
 
Each week, ALIVE helps you prepare your heart for Sunday’s Mass by reflecting on the Gospel and discovering how God’s Word speaks into your daily life.
 
This week, Jesus extends one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture:
 
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
 
Whether you’re carrying the weight of family responsibilities, illness, anxiety, addiction, grief, or uncertainty, Jesus invites you to bring it all to Him. His promise is simple yet life-changing: He will give you rest.
 
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and give thanks for the gift of freedom, we’re reminded that our deepest freedom and lasting peace are found in Christ alone.
 
Fr. Jonathan also shares the beautiful connection between Jesus’ invitation and the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, reminding us that Christ welcomes every weary soul with open arms.
 
This Independence Day weekend, may you take time to rest in the Lord, give thanks for the blessings of our nation, and entrust yourself to the One whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.
 
Discussion questions for this Sunday’s readings are linked below and are also available at allsaintscatholic.net.
 
Happy Independence Day, and may God bless you—and may God continue to bless America!
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Matthew 11:25-30What is the message or story?What is the Good News in this passage?Jesus is clearly praying in this passage, what does that reveal about Who Jesus is?  What example does it set for us?Who are the “little ones?”Do you feel labored and burdened?  Do you need some rest?What gives you rest, what replenishes you?What is a yoke?  Why is this image significant about our God?How does your Sunday (your sabbath rest) look different from the rest of the week?
 
#ALIVE #SundayGospel #ComeToMe #CatholicFaith #SundayReflection #IndependenceDay #GodBlessAmerica #FrJonathanMeyer #AllSaintsParish

ALIVE | The Eucharist Changes Everything

Welcome to ALIVE with Fr. Jonathan Meyer!
 
Each week, ALIVE helps you prepare your heart for Sunday’s Mass by reflecting on the Gospel and discovering how God’s Word applies to your daily life.
 
This week, Jesus gives us one of His most challenging invitations:
 
“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
 
What does it really mean to take up your cross?
 
Sometimes our cross is a difficult relationship. Sometimes it’s caring for a loved one, enduring suffering, or faithfully carrying responsibilities we didn’t choose. But Jesus calls us to something even greater—not simply to endure the cross, but to unite it with His own.
 
Drawing from a powerful mission trip tradition and the witness of St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Jonathan reflects on what it means to embrace the Cross as a path to holiness.
 
This week, spend some time praying with these questions:
 
✝️ What cross am I carrying?✝️ Am I resisting it or surrendering it to Christ?✝️ How is Jesus inviting me to follow Him more closely?
 
Discussion questions for this Sunday’s readings are linked below and are also available at allsaintscatholic.net. Gather a few friends, read the Scriptures together, and discover what God is saying to you this week.
 
Keep pressing play.Keep sharing the Gospel.Keep becoming the saint God created you to be.
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
13th Sunday in ordinary Time- Matthew 10:37-42What is the message or story?What is the Good News in this passage?Which of the 10 commandments is most closely associated with today’s reading?Are there times in your life when you have felt unworthy of God?Are there things in your life that you love more than Jesus, or you are tempted to love more than Jesus?We are told that if someone receives us, they receive God…who have we become through baptism, confirmation and the Holy Eucharist?Why does Jesus seem to have such a clear love for children?How is today’s passage related to the corporal works of mercy (Matthew 25).  
 
#ALIVE #SundayGospel #TakeUpYourCross #CatholicFaith #SundayReflection #Discipleship #FrJonathanMeyer #AllSaintsParish

ALIVE | Do Not Be Afraid: The Protective Heart of a Father

Welcome to ALIVE with Fr. Jonathan Meyer.
As we celebrate Father’s Day, this Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of one of the most repeated phrases in all of Scripture: “Do not be afraid.”
Drawing inspiration from St. Joseph, the protector of the Holy Family, Fr. Meyer reflects on the unique vocation of fatherhood—the call to protect, provide, and create a home where others can live free from fear. We give thanks for fathers who have reflected the love of God the Father, pray for healing for those whose experiences have been marked by absence or hurt, and ask St. Joseph to raise up holy men who will defend the dignity of marriage, family life, and the innocence of children.
Discussion questions for this Sunday’s readings are included below. Gather with family or friends and reflect together on how God is calling you to trust Him more deeply and become the saint He created you to be.
Happy Father’s Day, and may St. Joseph pray for all fathers.
#ALIVE #FathersDay #SaintJoseph #Catholic #SundayGospel #DoNotBeAfraid #FrJonathanMeyer

ALIVE | One Nation Under God: Consecrating America to the Sacred Heart

Welcome to ALIVE with Fr. Jonathan Meyer as we reflect on the readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week, Jesus looks upon the crowds with compassion, “because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”
As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Meyer invites us to pray for our nation as the bishops of the United States consecrate America to the Sacred Heart. What does it mean to be “one nation under God,” and how can we entrust our country, our families, and our own hearts more fully to Christ?
Discussion questions for this Sunday’s readings are included below. Take some time to pray, reflect, and share this conversation with someone else this week.
Please continue to pray for all of the young people attending the Intense Youth Conference this weekend.
#ALIVE #SacredHeartOfJesus #OneNationUnderGod #Catholic #SundayMass #OrdinaryTime #FrJonathanMeyer

The Eucharist Changes Everything | Corpus Christi | ALIVE

Welcome to ALIVE with Fr. Jonathan Meyer.
This weekend the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi—the Body and Blood of Christ.
In John 6, Jesus makes an astonishing promise:
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.”
These words reveal the incredible gift of the Eucharist. Where sin brought death into the world, Jesus now offers His very life to us through Holy Communion.
In this reflection, Fr. Jonathan shares:
The beauty of Corpus Christi and Eucharistic devotion
Why the Eucharist is the heart of Catholic life
A touching story about children counting their Communions
How gratitude can transform our relationship with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
Take some time this week to sit with John Chapter 6 in the presence of the Eucharist. Allow the Lord to deepen your love for this great gift and to renew your gratitude for His Real Presence.
“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
Discussion questions for this week’s readings can be found at:🌐 allsaintscatholic.net
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
Corpus Christi Sunday/ 9th Sunday Ordinary Time - John 6:51-58
What is the message or story?
What is the Good News in this passage?
If you were told to eat someone’s flesh and blood, would you do it?
Why is eating Jesus’s Flesh and Blood different?
“You are what you eat,” what does this mean about our union and relationship with Jesus?
The Eucharist has been called “the food of immortality,” where is the biblical foundation for this title?
Who do we receive when we consume the Eucharist?
What does the word transubstantiation mean?
Why should our deceased brothers and sisters who have eaten the Flesh and Blood of Jesus bring us hope?
 
#CorpusChristi #Eucharist #CatholicFaith #ALIVE #RealPresence #John6 #BlessedSacrament #FrJonathanMeyer #AllSaintsParish

Come Holy Spirit | Pentecost Sunday Homily

Happy Pentecost — the birthday of the Church!
In this Pentecost Sunday homily, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reflects on the five biblical images of the Holy Spirit: dove, fire, wind, breath, and water.
Each image helps us enter more deeply into relationship with the Holy Spirit:
🕊️ Dove — peace  🔥 Fire — courage and strength  🌬️ Wind — change and transformation  🌬️ Breath — new life  💧 Water — cleansing and forgiveness  
When we are anxious, afraid, stuck, spiritually dry, or in need of mercy, we can pray one of the simplest and most powerful prayers:
Come Holy Spirit.
May this Pentecost renew our hearts, our families, our parish, and the whole Church.
#Pentecost #ComeHolySpirit #CatholicHomily #HolySpirit #CatholicFaith #SundayHomily #FrJonathanMeyer #AllSaintsParish