Faithful & Authentic: The All Saints Parish Podcast

ALIVE! | 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time | The Power of Inviting Others to Your Table

Welcome to ALIVE! with Fr. Jonathan Meyer. This week, on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Gospel challenges us to rediscover the simple but powerful act of hospitality.
When was the last time you invited someone into your home for a meal—or were invited yourself? Sharing food and conversation is not just social, it’s deeply spiritual. Jesus calls us to open our doors not just to friends and family, but especially to the poor, the forgotten, and those who may feel alone.
Fr. Meyer reflects on the Gospel and his own memories to encourage us to reclaim the dinner table as a place of faith, fellowship, and evangelization.
🙏 Watch, reflect, and ask yourself: Who can I invite to my table this week?
📖 Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7–14💬 Discussion questions are provided below to help you go deeper.
Be the difference. God bless you!
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Luke 14:7-14 
What is the basic story or content?
What is the good news in this passage?
When was the last time you had dinner at someone else’s home?  
What is one way you can take a lower seat at home, work, or in your community?
Have you ever invited poor people into your home- or people that you know that are struggling?
What would it be like to do that?
What is one practical way you can live out this passage?
 
#Catholic #SundayGospel #Hospitality #Alive #FrMeyer #22ndSunday

Actions Matter: Following Christ on the Narrow Road | Alive 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time | All Saints Parish

This week on Alive, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reflects on the Gospel for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 13).
 
At first glance, today’s passage is tough — Jesus warns that the way to heaven is a narrow gate and that not everyone who calls on His name will enter. Yet hidden in this challenge is a message of good news: people will come from the north and south, east and west, to recline at the table of the Kingdom of God.
 
Fr. Meyer unpacks three key lessons from this Gospel:
We must walk the narrow way — we can’t live however we please and expect heaven.
Our actions matter — faith and deeds go hand in hand.
We are called to be servants, putting others before ourselves, for “the last will be first and the first will be last.”
 
The narrow way is not a burden — it is the road to peace, joy, and eternal life.
 
✝️ Take time this week to reflect on this Gospel and discuss the questions below with a friend. Together, let’s walk the narrow path that leads to Christ and His Kingdom.

Heart of a Lion: Awaken the Man God Created You to Be | Matthew Kelly at the E6 Catholic Men’s Conference 2.26.22

What does it mean to live as the man God created you to be? In this powerful E6 Catholic Men’s Conference talk, Matthew Kelly challenges men to rise above passivity, reclaim their God-given identity, and live with courage, clarity, and wholehearted faith.
 
With practical wisdom and inspiring stories, Matthew reveals how to:
Recognize your unique mission in God’s plan
Live with the confidence of a son of the King
Break free from half-measures and embrace a life of purpose
Awaken the lion-hearted strength God has placed within you
 
Whether you’re seeking to reignite your faith, strengthen your family, or stand boldly in today’s culture, this talk will inspire you to take the next step toward becoming the best version of yourself.
 
📌 Learn more about the E6 Catholic Men’s Conference: https://www.e6catholicmensconference.com/
 
#MatthewKelly #E6MensConference #CatholicMen #CatholicFaith #AwakenTheLionWithin

When Family Leaves the Faith – Finding Hope in the Midst of Division

What do you do when someone you love has walked away from the Catholic faith? In this homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 12:49-53), Fr. Jonathan Meyer shares how we can hold both the reality of division and the hope of Christ’s desire for unity.
 
You are not alone. The Lord is with you. And He may be calling you to be the answer to someone else’s prayer for a loved one’s return.
 
🙏 Scripture: Luke 12:49-53, John 17
💬 Reflection Questions: See below in the description.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 12:49-53
What is the basic story or content?
What is the good news in this passage?
What would the world look like if it was on FIRE for the Lord?
What sacrament is often depicted as fire?
Jesus did not come to bring peace?  What does He mean here?
Has the Gospel caused division in your home or family?  How?
What is one practical way you can live out this passage?
 
If this message gives you hope, please share it with someone who needs encouragement — and know that we are praying for you.
 
#CatholicHomily #Luke12 #RedemptiveHope #FrJonathanMeyer #FamilyFaith

Giving More, Needing Less: The Call to Gospel Poverty | Sunday Homily 8.3.25

In this week’s homily, we’re challenged to reflect on a powerful question:
“How much am I giving—and how much is God calling me to give?”
 
Fr. shares his personal journey of learning Gospel poverty, starting with his parents’ simple family tradition of the “poor kid’s jar,” and growing into a life of sacrificial generosity.
 
Drawing from the parable of the man who built bigger barns (Luke 12), the story of Zacchaeus, and real-life mission experiences in Haiti, this message invites us to step out of a culture of greed and into the freedom of giving.
 
💡 “The more we own, the more we worry. But the more we give, the more joy we find.”
 
🕊️ Challenge for the week:
Ask God—“How much am I giving, and how much more can I give?”

Don’t Just Prepare—Live Prepared | Alive 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time | All Saints Parish

On this 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Fr. Meyer reflects on the words of Jesus in Luke 12 and a powerful insight from the life of St. Catherine of Siena: “She lived as if it was always Lent.”
 
We’re good at preparing during Advent and Lent—but how do we live when the season of preparation ends? What if the practices that help us grow during those times—confession, daily Mass, prayer, sacrifice—are meant for every season?
 
This week’s Alive invites us to carry the graces of preparation into daily life, so we can live with greater freedom, peace, and joy—always ready, always alive in Christ.
 
🙏 Stay prepared. Stay awake. Stay alive.
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 12:35-40
What is the basic story or content?
What is the good news in this passage?
We are to be ready- what are ways to be ready for the Lord?
This passage speaks of Jesus serving us- wow- how does that make you feel?
Do you have fear or excitement about the coming of the Lord?
What is one practical way you can live out this passage?
 
 

"This Is My Body, Given Up for You” | NFP, Grandparents, and the Gift of Life | Sunday Homily 7.27.25

Every time we go to Mass, we hear the words: “This is my body, given up for you.” But what does that mean for us—in our marriages, our families, and our daily choices?
 
In this powerful homily, given during Natural Family Planning Awareness Week and on World Day for Grandparents, we reflect on the bold witness of St. Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae, the beauty and challenge of living God’s plan for love, and how surrendering our bodies in love—whether in parenting, grandparenting, marriage, or spiritual sacrifice—mirrors Christ’s gift to us in the Eucharist.
 
We also explore:
Why the Church continues to teach openness to life
The pain and witness of infertility
How grandparents (like Saints Joachim and Anne) shape the faith of future generations
Why “witnesses” are more powerful than words
 
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, single, married, or longing for children, this message reminds us all: we are called to give ourselves in love, just as Jesus gave Himself for us.
 
🙏 For NFP resources or doctor recommendations go to https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/what-natural-family-planning

July 30th Challenge: Write THIS on Your Credit Card – A Simple Way to Witness Every Day

Did you know that on July 30, 1956, “In God We Trust” was officially declared the motto of the United States? While it’s printed on our coins and paper bills, most of us rarely handle cash these days. But what if there were a simple way to keep this powerful reminder visible in your daily life?
 
In this video, I share a small but meaningful challenge: grab a Sharpie and write In God We Trust on your debit or credit card. Every time you tap, swipe, or insert your card, you’re not only reminding yourself—but also the world—where your trust lies.
 
Let’s live out our faith in the little moments.
Jesus, I trust in You.
 
#InGodWeTrust #FaithInAction #CatholicChallenge #ChristianWitness #July30 #TrustInGod

Why Do You Have What You Have? | Fr. Meyer Reflects on Simplicity & Generosity | Alive 18th Sunday Ordinary Time

“What are you storing things up for?”
In this week’s Alive reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Jonathan Meyer challenges us to take a closer look at our attachment to material and spiritual possessions—through the lens of Luke 12:13–21.
 
Drawing inspiration from the quiet witness of Fr. Hallowell and the parable of the rich fool, Fr. Meyer invites us to ask:
👉 Why do I have what I have?
👉 Am I storing up for myself or sharing with others?
👉 Do I live simply—and give freely?
 
This message isn’t just about cluttered closets—it’s about sharing the spiritual treasures we’ve been given: faith, formation, and wisdom.
 
💬 Watch, reflect, and share your thoughts below.
🙌 Use the questions in the description to discuss in your small group or over coffee this week.
 
Be a saint. Be the difference.
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 12:13-21
What is the basic story or content?
What is the good news in this passage?
Inheritance money has divided families throughout the ages- do you have a situation like this in your own family?
Life is not about possessions- but we love stuff- why do we love our possessions?
What are three ways you can be generous today?
What are ways we can store up treasure in heaven?
What is one practical way you can live out this passage?

Want to Change the World? Do This One Thing First | Sunday Homily 7.20.25 | Fr. Jonathan Meyer

What if the most powerful way to change the world… is to stop and be still?
 
In this week’s homily for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Meyer reflects on the Gospel of Martha and Mary—and shares a personal story that forever changed his understanding of real work. From a freezing night in Minnesota to the spiritual depths of Carmelite prayer, Fr. Meyer invites us to discover what it truly means to choose “the better part.”
 
At the heart of this message is an invitation:
🕊️ To sit at the feet of Jesus.
🕊️ To listen.
🕊️ To allow ourselves to be seen, known, and loved.
 
Featuring reflections on hospitality, intimacy, and the contemplative life, this homily challenges our modern addiction to busyness—and calls us into a deeper, quieter revolution: the power of prayer.
 
📖 Gospel: Luke 10:38–42
📚 Recommended books by Fr. Meyer: The Prayer Primer & The Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay
 
🙏 Will you be one of the 100 who help spark a worldwide revolution through prayer?
 
#CatholicHomily #FrMeyer #TheBetterPart #EucharisticAdoration #CarmeliteSpirituality #CatholicFaith #PrayerLife