Faithful & Authentic: The All Saints Parish Podcast

Are You Actually Fasting… or Just Eating Fish?

Is Friday abstinence enough?
Or are we missing the point of fasting altogether?
 
Jesus says when He is taken away, His disciples will fast.
But what does that really mean for us today?
 
On this first Friday of Lent, let’s talk about delayed gratification, self-denial, and the fastest way to become a saint.
 
Rise Up – Day 3
 
#RiseUp #Lent #Catholic #CatholicFaith #Fasting #FirstFriday #BecomingASaint #SelfDenial #DelayedGratification #FatherMeyer

Why Most Catholics Never Actually Change During Lent

Day 2 of Lent.
 
Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
 
But denial is hard. And instant gratification is easy.
 
If you’ve ever struggled to keep your Lenten commitments… this reflection is for you.
 
Spiritual transformation doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from delayed gratification, daily discipline, and accountability.
 
Are you ready to deny yourself — not just once — but daily?
 
📲 Join the 90-Day Rise Up journey:
Text rise26 to 84576
 
Let’s become saints together.
 
#Lent #RiseUp #Catholic #SpiritualGrowth #DelayedGratification #BeASaint

Rise Up | Day 1: Transformation, Not Tweaks

Ash Wednesday is a day filled with possibility.
Today, the world walks around marked with ashes — repentant, desiring change, longing to become who God created us to be.
But most of us don’t actually pray for transformation.
We pray for small adjustments.
In Day 1 of Rise Up, Fr. Jonathan challenges you to stop asking for minor improvements and start surrendering everything. What righteous deeds will you commit to during these 40 days? What in your life needs to change — not be tweaked — but transformed?
This journey doesn’t end at Easter Sunday.
We will walk together through:• 46 days of Lent• 50 days of Easter• All the way to Pentecost
95 days of daily encouragement, challenge, and accountability.
Let’s rise up.
⸻
📩 Want the Daily Video Sent to Your Inbox?
Sign up to receive each day’s video link by texting:
rise26 to 84576
You’ll receive a daily text or email reminder so you don’t miss a single step of the journey.
Don’t do this alone. Invite a friend. Choose accountability. Be a saint.
#RiseUp#Lent2026#Catholic#AshWednesday#BeASaint

Jesus Didn’t Abolish the Law — He Came to Set You Free

This reflection comes from our weekly Alive series, where we gather around the Gospel and let it speak into real life. Over Lent and Easter, Alive will pause as we enter into something even deeper.
 
Beginning Ash Wednesday, we’ll be sharing Rise Up — a daily Gospel reflection journey that runs through Pentecost. It’s about moving from rules to freedom, from white-knuckling faith to living it with grace.
 
How to sign up for Rise Up:
📱 Text RISEUP to 84576
📧 Or sign up by email — it’s free and delivered daily
 
Invite a friend. Share the journey. Let the Word of God change your life.

Your Light Must Shine | Be the Light and Change the World | Alive

In this powerful retreat talk, Fr. Meyer invites us to rediscover our deepest identity — not based on performance, failure, or fear, but on the unshakable truth that God loved us first.
 
Drawing from the Nativity, Scripture, Marian devotion, and years of pastoral and youth ministry experience, Fr. Meyer reflects on what it means to know not only who we are, but whose we are: beloved daughters of God. He reminds us that our identity is rooted in God’s initiative — a love freely given, not earned.
 
Through prayer, reflection, and a guided renunciation of lies, this talk gently leads us to release shame, fear, anxiety, and false beliefs, and to proclaim the truth of who we are in Christ:
Loved
Wanted
Forgiven
Protected
Never abandoned
 
This talk is especially meaningful for anyone who struggles with self-worth, anxiety, or trusting God’s love, and for those longing for deeper interior healing and peace.
 
“Your identity is rooted in the fact that God loved you first.”
 
May this reflection help you rest more fully in the truth of who you are — and who God is for you.

ALIVE Bonus Episode: Candlemas — Christ the Light of the World

Welcome to a bonus episode of ALIVE as we prepare to celebrate Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
 
This beautiful feast marks the 40th day of Christmas, when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus—the Light of the world—into the Temple. In this reflection, Father Jonathan Blyer explains why we bless and carry candles, why this liturgy is so powerful, and how Candlemas invites us to reflect on the light Christ brings into our own lives.
 
We reflect on:
The blessing and procession of candles
Jesus as the Light entering the darkness
The Presentation in the Temple (the Fourth Joyful Mystery)
Simeon’s canticle and the prophetess Anna
The role of candles in prayer, both at church and at home
 
You’re also encouraged to bring candles from home to Mass to be blessed, and to consider how candlelight might deepen your personal and family prayer life.
 
✨ When was the last time you lit a candle and prayed?
 
Discussion questions are included below.
We’re glad you’re here.
Be a saint. 🙏
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:
Presentation of Lord- Luke 2:22- 40 What is the basic story or content?What is the good news in this passage?How many days are there between Christmas and the Presentation?Which Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is today’s biblical passage?Did Jesus and/or Mary need to be purified?Now that Simeon has seen the Lord, what is he ready to do?What does Simeon prophesy about Mary and a sword?Have you ever seen an image of a heart with a sword in it?  Where?

Adolf Hitler Was a Baptized Catholic

Adolf Hitler was baptized Catholic — but baptism alone does not guarantee holiness or salvation.
In this homily, Fr. John Hollowell reflects on the meaning of baptism, original sin, and the ongoing spiritual battle each of us faces after receiving the grace of the sacraments. Drawing on powerful analogies from hiking and mountaineering, Fr. Hollowell explains why baptism is the beginning of the Christian adventure, not the end.
Baptism makes us adopted sons and daughters of God and temples of the Holy Spirit — gifts even Adam and Eve did not possess. Yet, as the Catechism teaches, the consequences of sin remain, and we are still called to strive, cooperate with grace, and put our God-given talents to work.
This homily challenges us to avoid complacency, to take our faith seriously, and to find joy, peace, and purpose in striving for holiness through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession.

Exorcism, Freedom, and Faith | Fr. Vincent Lampert | Intense Youth Conference 2025

Fr. Vincent Lampert, longtime exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, delivers a powerful talk at the Intense Youth Conference 2025. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in spiritual warfare, Fr. Lampert reveals how the devil works to separate us from God, the dangers of the occult and false freedoms, and the hope we find in Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and God’s mercy.
 
This talk challenges us to “wake up” spiritually, root out anything that is contrary to Christ, and rediscover our true freedom in obedience to God.
 
🙏 Key themes:
The reality of spiritual warfare
Ordinary vs. extraordinary demonic activity
The true meaning of freedom and obedience to God
The power of the sacraments, prayer, and reconciliation
Why fascination with evil must be replaced with fascination for God
 
📖 “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4

Blessed Are the Pure of Heart: Learning to See God in the Body | Alive

In this ALIVE reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Father Jonathan Meyer dives into one of the most challenging and misunderstood Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.”
What does it mean to truly see God — not just in creation, but in the human person?
Drawing from Theology of the Body and real pastoral experience, Father Meyer invites us to move beyond lust and temptation toward purity of heart, where beauty leads us to gratitude, reverence, and compassion. Instead of objectifying others, we’re called to recognize their dignity and see God living and breathing in them.
This reflection also challenges us to respond with mercy and love, especially toward those who may not yet understand their own worth.
📖 Gospel: Matthew 5:1–12📝 Discussion questions are included below — perfect for prayer, small groups, or sharing with a friend.
Let’s go to Mass this Sunday fired up by the Beatitudes and ready to live them out.
God bless you.  
Gospel Discussion Questions:4th Sunday In Ordinary Time- Matthew 5:1-12 What is the basic story or content?What message is Jesus trying to communicate?Who in the Old Testament went up a mountain? Which of the 8 beatitudes speaks to you the most?Who do you know that is mourning?  How can you comfort them?Have you ever been persecuted for your faith?  When?  What was it like?What are ways that we show mercy?  What are the corporal works of mercy? Have you done each one, at least once?What is one way you can live out this passage this week?

Drop Your Nets & Follow: God Is Calling You | Alive

Welcome to ALIVE, our weekend Gospel preparation series.
 
In this reflection, Father Jonathan Meyer walks with us through Matthew 4:12–23, the Call of the Apostles, reminding us that God is not distant — He is actively calling each of us right now.
 
God calls us to prayer, to love, to repentance, to service, and sometimes to bold commitment. Too often we hesitate, overthink, or wait for the “perfect time.” But Jesus’ invitation is simple: “Come after me.” And the response is just as simple — trust and follow.
 
Whether God is calling you to deeper faith, ministry, marriage, religious life, or to finally take that step you’ve been putting off, this reflection invites you to drop your nets and follow.
 
👇 Discussion questions are below
Call a friend, meet up with a small group, and talk about how the Gospel is alive in your life this week.
Have a blessed week.
 
Gospel Discussion Questions:3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time- Matthew 4:12-23What is the basic story or content?What is the good news in this passage?Why do you think that Jesus’s ministry did not start until John had been arrested?Two sets of brothers were called to be apostles- what does this say about the importance of family?Why do you think Jesus called fishermen?What skill is needed to be a fisherman?There is a great sense of urgency:  “at once,” “immediately.”  What does this tell us about the Gospel message?What role will Simon play in the future?