Homily 19th Sunday A
Homily 19th Sunday O.T. A SBC Schuyler 2026 Mt 14:22-33 1 Kg 19:9.11-13 Rom 9:1-5
An unbelieving scientist was on an expedition through the desert, guided by some Arabs.
At sundown the Arabs spread out their carpets and prayed. “What are you doing,”
the scientist asked one. “I am praying.” – “To whom?” – “To Allah.”
“Have you ever seen, touched, or felt Allah, your God?” – “No.” – “Then you are foolish.”
The next morning, the scholar, crawling out of his tent, said to the Arab:
“A camel was here tonight.” Now the eyes of the Muslim lit up:
“Have you seen, touched, or felt it?” – “No.” – “Then you are a strange scholar.”
“Well, we see its footprints all around the tent!”
At that very moment the sun rose in all its splendor.
The Arab pointed toward it and said: “There you see the footprints of God!!” –
God’s presence is all around us. We only need eyes to see.
Today’s gospel comes in two parts. First, it presents us with Jesus
spending a night on a mountain in prayer. Before the Feeding of the Five Thousand,
last Sunday’s gospel, which precedes our text today, Jesus had heard
about the execution of John the Baptist, his cousin.
Apparently, he needed time to deal with this sad news.
John, as well as Jesus, had proclaimed the message:
“Reform your lives! The kingdom of God is at hand!” Jesus respected John highly;
and Jesus knew that he, with his words and deeds, was in danger, too.
For Jesus, the night on the mountain probably was, humanly speaking, a time of grieving
and of handing himself over anew completely in prayer to God, his heavenly Father.
Second, there are the disciples who cross the Sea of Galilee at night.
They are scared when their boat is tossed about by the waves.
Even when Jesus himself is with them they first don’t recognize him;
rather their fear increases. Then there is this special scene with Peter,
who, realizing that it is Jesus, wants to approach him immediately, leaving the boat.
As long as his eyes are fixed on Christ, he can master the waves.
But when he looks at the storm and at the waters, he becomes fearful and is about to drown.
Sinking Peter then directs his attention back to Jesus, exclaiming: “Lord, save me!”
Peter is rescued and the wind dies down.
Both parts of this gospel are images for our own lives. When we are confronted
with challenges, it can happen that God gets out of sight for us.
As it was with the disciples who didn’t recognize Jesus, so we sometimes
don’t take the signs of God’s presence for real. God is the “I AM,”
the one who is with us always, loving us and caring for us.
For us, too, it is appropriate, when we are in trouble, to call out:
“Lord, help me, rescue me!”
But also Jesus’ night of prayer has a lesson for us: We, too, need regular times
of being with God, of letting ourselves be enveloped by God’ presence, as Jesus did.
My sisters and brothers, in Jesus praying on the mountain, in the disciples in the boat,
and in sinking Peter we can see images of us and of our church.
What we need is attentiveness to God’s presence and trust in the One who can support us
even and especially in the stormy periods of our lives and of our world.
It is good to build times into our day, our week and our year when we hand over
our lives and everything that is going on completely in prayer to God,
or when we simply become silent in God’s presence like Jesus on the mountain
or like Elijah in his cave.
During the activities of our day, we can continue our prayer,
for instance, with the well-known Jesus Prayer of the Eastern Church,
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” We can repeat this line
throughout the day, whenever our mind is free to do so.
Such continuous prayer has a transforming effect on our lives.
The scientist in our story didn’t pay attention to the presence, the ‘footprints,”
of God’s mystery in the wonderful sunrise. If we continue to pray
and to be attentive to God, the “I AM,” with us and within us,
then we have no reason to fear and to worry too much in whatever situation we are.
May the Eucharist we share transform us and empower us
to be, in our daily lives and in an often very secular and stormy world,
signs and instruments of God’s presence and work. AMEN.
~ Fr. Thomas, OSB
Homily: The Greatest Treasure
Most of us are familiar with the Antiques Roadshow! If you are not, google it later. People bring their old stuff from home to be evaluated by experts, sometimes to them its treasure, sometimes they just hope it might be worth something. Some go away disappointed, and some are told that this bit of junk is worth a lot of money.
You never know what's going to turn up as a treasure. It could be something like an old coin that's been lying around, a baseball card that nobody thought was special, or some antique that's been collecting dust on a shelf. One minute it's just something taking up space, and the next minute someone tells you that it's really valuable, way more than you ever thought possible.
My parents owned an antique shop, and they often took great delight in finding something that was valuable or unique that others thought was junk or worthless. They would become like little kids, full of excitement, wonder, and joy. Sometimes they would use their last bit of money to purchase the precious items.
That excitement, that exact feeling Jesus wants to give us in today’s two short parables.
A man discovers a treasure buried in a field. Another man finds the finest pearl he has ever seen. Both immediately sell everything they own.
According to Matthew, the first man left feeling completely overjoyed. His thoughts weren't filled with worries like "I have to get rid of all my stuff." Instead, he was thrilled, thinking "This is amazing, I've stumbled upon something incredible!"
That's the difference.
When you stumble upon something that's precious, you don't waste your time thinking about the price tag. Instead, you just feel thankful that you've discovered it. It's like finding a treasure - you're so happy to have it that you don't care what it cost, you're just grateful it's yours.
I felt this way when I had found the monastery here, and Fr. Anastasius too shared the joy he felt on his first night in the monastery! Neither of us thought about what sacrifices we might have to make, but what a wonderful thing we had found.
I think sometimes we Christians accidentally give the impression that following Jesus is mostly about giving things up. We talk about sacrifice, rules, obligations, and crosses to carry. Those things are certainly part of discipleship.
But before any of that comes joy.
The early followers of Jesus were drawn to him because he brought a profound transformation in hearts and in their lives. They experienced forgiveness, which gave them a new lease on life. They found hope, a sense of purpose that guided them through life's challenges. And they discovered a love that was more powerful than any obstacle, even death. This love was Jesus, and once they encountered him, nothing else seemed to matter. He was the one who changed everything, and they were forever changed by knowing him.
What do I treasure most?
What we treasure has a big impact on how we live our lives.
If following Jesus is just one more burden I have, more set of laws and rules I must follow, then faith will eventually feel like a burden.
But if Jesus is really one of the most valuable things we can have, then following him isn't just something we have to do, it's something we want to do because it ultimately brings us joy.
As we gather for the Eucharist today, it's not just about checking off a weekly duty. We're here to receive a gift that's beyond anything we could ever imagine. Each time we gather at the altar, God generously places this incredible treasure right into our hands, reminding us of His love and presence in our lives.
May we never lose the joy of having found him.
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
News Release: Call of the West Program at Saint Benedict Center
Marci Broyhill and her sister, Teresa Kay Orr, will present a program titled, Call of the West: Challenges and Opportunities on August 23, 2026, 3:00 p.m., at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler. This presentation is made possible by the Speakers Bureau of Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and Saint Benedict Center.
Marci and Teresa implement music, stories and PowerPoint to address the different aspects of the American Western Movement that occurred in Nebraska. The timeline of this presentation is 1830s through the early 1900s. This program will acknowledge the lure of adventure and economic opportunities, physical and emotional struggles, importance and evolution of the Great Platte River Road guiding travelers west, impact on the Native tribes, homesteading guidelines, and the role of horses. It is a reflection on the rural and small-town lifestyle in Nebraska, a culture for which many people yearn.
Teresa and Marci grew up on the family's century old farmstead within the spokes of the Cedar-Dixon County Line in northeast Nebraska, which encompasses the Outlaw Trail, Highway 12. Their father offered them hands-on education through hard work and responsibility. Teresa picked up a guitar and developed a true appreciation for many styles of music because of her mother's influence. As a singer/songwriter, her original music stirs the heart with songs of family, history, and love of country. Marci visits small town museums, giving life to stories with her poetry and has participated in poetry gatherings in six states. She balances her presentations with information, reflection and humor. She published two CDs of her original poetry. Call of the West: Challenges and Opportunities is one of approximately 300 programs offered through the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau.
There is no Admission Fee. A free-will offering is requested.
Novena Appeal
Greetings from all the monks at the Benedictine Mission House in Schuyler, Nebraska.
““The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.””
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the end of the American Civil war and the end of slavery in 1865. Let us remember with gratitude the changes our nation embraced. People from many cultures shaped society throughout our history. The goodness and generosity of our citizens is especially evident in times of natural disasters. We reach out to our brothers and sisters in need! And the journey continues!
The Missionary Benedictines, in their history of 142 years, accomplished much in building up the Kingdom of God. Many churches in Africa and Asia could only be constructed because of the financial aid of donors in Europe and the USA. The seed has been planted. The seed has matured. The harvest is great, yet much more needs to be done.
The quote from the Gospel of Luke is not only a metaphor that inspired the previous sentence, it is an invitation to continue being witnesses of God’s unconditional love and the presence of Jesus in our lives.
Last July we told you about the need for renovations of churches, rectories and parish facilities in Africa and construction of new and larger churches due to the growing number of faithful. Thanks to the generosity of many, we raised $750,000 which the Conference of Procurators allocated to projects after reviewing the applications.
Fr. Anastasius, our mission procurator, reported on the life of the Church in Tanzania and what he observed in monasteries and parishes. Clergy and Religious, sisters and brothers, carry most responsibilities. However, women and men from within the parish family are needed to help with social outreach, e.g. helping the poor, teaching new methods of farming and animal husbandry, visiting the sick, teaching the faith, etc.
Together with our African confreres we envision to reach the younger generation through youth ministry that unites, not only for social activities, but to teach and empower them to be future leaders. Programs will be offered by enthusiastic local facilitators, eager to work with young people and at the same time be evangelizers. This program deserves our subsidy.
“We are Church!” Together we can implement the vision for youth ministry in Africa, but also to bring hope to our own neighborhoods by our witness and action. We count on your prayers! I am also bold enough and ask for your financial help as your own resources allow.
Together let us make a difference!
From August 6 through 15, we monks of Christ the King Priory – Benedictine Mission House will offer a Nine-Day Novena of prayer and Holy Mass for the intentions of our friends and supporters. This Novena goes back to a solemn promise our pioneer monks made before coming to Schuyler in 1935. We keep their sacred promise alive. Please let us know your intentions.
May our heavenly Mother intercede for you at the throne of her Divine Son.
Gratefully yours:
Bro. Tobias, OSB
Homily: The First Word of the Rule
The first word of the Rule is one of the most important words St. Benedict ever wrote: Listen.
Not work.
Not pray.
Not obey.
Not serve.
Listen.
That is exactly where today's readings begin. Proverbs tells us to receive God's words, to incline our ear, to seek wisdom as though searching for hidden treasure. Paul reminds us to let the word of Christ fill our lives completely.
The apostles, were not so great listeners… otherwise they would not have been arguing about who was the greatest among them just hours before Jesus was to suffer.
Jesus Himself, on the other hand, listens perfectly to the Father, and because He listens, He knows that His place at the table is not one of privilege but of service.
Listening should always lead to service.
I sometimes wonder if one of the greatest temptations in Benedictine life is that we stop listening because we think we already know.
We know the Rule.
We know the schedule.
We know the psalms.
We know how Chapter goes.
We know the customs.
We think we understand our vows.
We're familiar with each other's strong points, but it's probably even easier for us to see where we each struggle. Our weak points.
Without realizing it, we can begin living on yesterday's listening. But St. Benedict didn't want the monastery to just be a place where old traditions were kept alive.
He wanted it to be a place where people could learn and grow in their faith, a place where every day we're still learning to listen to Christ's voice, to serve others, to really love, and to follow his example.
It's a school of the Lord's service, where we're constantly learning and trying to become better servants of God, become more and more the hands and feet of Christ.
The foundation of the Rule is rooted in scripture and listening, and from this core principle of LISTENING, all other Benedictine values naturally emerge and unfold.
If I stop listening to Christ, I will stop listening to my brother or sister.
If I stop listening to my brother or sister, patience becomes difficult.
Forgiveness becomes difficult.
Hospitality becomes difficult.
Mission becomes difficult.
Service becomes difficult.
Eventually, service becomes little more than duty. When we really let the words of Christ sink in, and transform us, something amazing happens. We start to feel more compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, and loving.
It's not just about trying hard to be these things, but about letting God's grace work in us.
Perhaps that is why Jesus says, "I am among you as one who serves." His service is not a strategy. It is the natural expression of His perfect communion with the Father.
The same is true for us. Our work as missionaries, the way we welcome others, our life together, our prayers, the things we do to help others, and even our everyday tasks will only be truly effective if we start by listening.
The world needs many things from Benedictines. The world needs, our schools, retreat houses, missions, our hospitals, and ministries. It needs our example of community, of loving service.
However, before anything else can happen, it's essential that we, as individuals, learn to listen deeply to God. The world needs people who are willing to truly hear and understand His message.
That's always been the thing that comes first.
As we come together around the altar, we're reminded of our role as listeners. But before we can go out and serve others, we need to let Christ serve us first.
He shares His message with us, and He gives us His body and blood to nourish us.
As we receive from Him, He sends us out into our daily lives, whether that's in a monastery, on a mission, at work, or at home.
It is not just to get things done, but to listen more deeply to those around us. When we really listen to Christ, we start to serve others in the same way He served us.
It's a beautiful cycle of listening and serving, and it's one that can transform our lives and the lives of those we touch. By listening to Christ, we're able to tap into His heart of service, and we're empowered to make a real difference in the world.
May our Holy Father Benedict, his Holy Sister Scholastica, pray for us that we may be good listeners in the school of the Lord’s service, and may our listening help us to bring Christ to those we daily encounter.
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
Homily: 14th Sunday A
Homily 14th Sunday: O.T. A SBC 2026 Mt 11:25-30 Zec 9:9-10 Rom 8:9.11-13
focus: We may hand over our burdens our troubles and burdens to Jesus and rest with him.
function: This strengthens us for living according to His teaching and example.
“I will give you rest from all your enemies,” God says to King David in the Old Testament. The promise is being fulfilled. David gains victory over the neighboring peoples and establishes his kingdom.
He can rest mainly because of his military strength.
The Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaims is quite different!
The early Church saw Jesus’ way of being king symbolized by his entry into Jerusalem riding on an ass, not on a horse
like the Romans, the ruling power at the time, would do after a victory, leading prisoners behind them from the defeated army.
An ass wasn’t an animal to ride on in combat.
Jesus didn’t present himself at all as the leader of an army, nor even of a guerilla group.
Rather Jesus had experienced inner strength and radiated it to a degree that he had no need for weapons and armor.
People could feel secure with him and find rest with him because of his inner freedom that nobody and nothing could take away from him.
Jesus must have instilled in his listeners and followers a longing for this inner strength and freedom when he said,
“Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.”
Who were the people who actually did come to Jesus?
Mainly ordinary folks, the largely uneducated and simple population of Galilee.
They flocked in great number to access his healing power.
Their overall positive response implies revelation from God, since, lacking expertise in such matters, they had no other means of knowing and understanding.
The Pharisaic teachers, on the other hand, through the way they interpreted the Torah, the law of Moses, according to their tradition, imposed heavy burdens upon others.
Their many rules, their 613 commandments and prohibitions, couldn’t be kept by many ordinary people because of the way they had to earn their living.
We only have to think of shepherds and ass drivers. They largely lived outdoors and found it hard to keep all the required purity laws.
Jesus in turn proposes his ‘yoke’ to them that is easy, his burden that is light.
He is happy about all who receive and accept his message:
“I give praise to you, Father.” You, the Lord of heaven and earth, have revealed the message of your kingdom to little ones, to simple hearts.
Those, however, who put all their trust in outward things, in possessions, those who are caught up in a good life, those who think they have all the answers, for them it is harder to gain access to God, to the mystery within us and in all reality.
My sisters and brothers, we, too, can learn from Jesus; and we may hand over our troubles and burdens to Jesus and rest with him. This strengthens us for living according to his teaching and example.
Pope Francis expounded the subject matter of resting with Jesus in his encyclical titled, in Latin, Dilexit Nos, in English, He Has Loved Us.
In Jesus, God’s love became visible and tangible in an unsurpassable way, Pope Francis says. He quotes St. Augustine who commented that John, the Beloved Disciple, while reclining on Jesus’ bosom during the Last Supper drew near the secret place of wisdom. There he received strength from Jesus and there he learned from Him, grew in that wisdom which the heavenly father reveals to the humble.
The same will happen to us if we spend time in silent prayer and adoration with the one who invites us with all of our burdens to stay and to rest with him.
This communion with the Lord empowers us, so the late pope, to become joy-filled missionary disciples who bring about a joyful encounter with the love of Christ and who find Christ in every other person.
Jesuit Fr. Greg Boyle is someone who embodies in our time the freedom and the inner strength that come from Jesus.
He the founded Homeboy Industries, which rehabilitates ex-gang members and convicts in Los Angeles.
“There (in prison) we were watched,” one of them said. “Here we are seen, respected.”
Let me close with a personal maxim of Fr. Greg, which we have to hear from the background of his challenging work:
“Today I will surrender into the arms of the God of love and then choose to be these arms.” (2x)
That’s what the gospel invites us to today.
AMEN.
~ Fr. Thomas, OSB
Greetings from St. Benedict Ndanda Referral Hospital
Greetings,
Dear Procurators and friends of the Benedictine Mission House,
On behalf of the Hospital Board of Trustees, Hospital Management Team and all the beneficiaries of St. Benedict Ndanda Referral Hospital, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the generous donation of the new modern ambulance offered to our hospital. This well-equipped ambulance has greatly improved our referral services, especially in facilitating the safe and timely transfer of patients to the National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. Its presence has significantly added value to the quality of healthcare services we provide to our patients and the wider community. We are deeply grateful and humbled by your kindness, generosity, and continued support toward our mission of serving the sick and vulnerable. Your contribution will have a lasting impact on many lives. Please accept our sincere appreciation and thanks for this invaluable donation.
Please find few photos hereunder. The photo below shows the new ambulance upon its arrival in front of the Hospital Administration Block. The ambulance was warmly received with a water salute shower from above.
The photo below shows the trial of our new ambulance on its first short journey to bring a patient to our hospital. We sincerely thank Fr. Damian, former Administrator, who took the initiative to write this project proposal.
We are also deeply grateful to all benefactors for donating this life-saving gift in service to our hospital. May God bless you abundantly for your generosity and support.
With gratitude and prayers,
Fr. Alfons Holela OSB
Director of Finance and Planning
For and on behalf of the Hospital Board of Trustees
St. Benedict Ndanda Referral Hospital
Summer Newsletter from Fr. Thomas
Dear Friends,
Amelia Earhart
During a recent visit to our Benedictine neighbors to the South, the Sisters on Mount Saint Scholastica in Atchison, KS, I learned more about one of this city’s famous citizens, Amelia Earhart. Born in 1897, she was the second person, after Charles Lindberg, and the first woman who flew solo and nonstop across the Atlantic. She also authored several books. In 1937, she tragically went missing while trying to fly around the world.
Amelia Earhart was a go-getter. “There is no failure except in no longer trying,” she would say. Try and don’t give up! She was able to think big of her own life and of that of others: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” she wrote. She knew that standing with the vision one has for one’s life is not always easy but worth the effort: “The greatest difficulty is to be brave enough to be yourself.” Plus, she had the patience to go about worthwhile projects step by step: “Acting for a better world doesn’t mean being a saint. It means trying to do good, one step at a time,” she reassures us.
Looking at the earth from above helped Amelia to maintain this wider perspective, marveling about what a tree looks like when a person looks down upon it: “You have not seen a tree until you have seen its shadow,” she wrote. – A retreat at St. Benedict Center is a very good opportunity to gain a wider, perhaps quite surprising perspective from a certain distance: on our life, on our faith and on our world.
Regarding St. Benedict Center, I can report that we have replaced our chillers, resulting in drier and more pleasant air indoors during the cooling season. Also, we purchased a larger natural gas generator that can power the whole building in case we are faced with prolonged loss of electricity again due to a storm! Last but not least I can announce that we have an even more user-friendly new website, with all our upcoming programs listed on it! Please check it out: www.stbenedictcenter.com – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator
Sacred Heart Appeal
Greetings!
The monks of Christ the King Priory – Benedictine Mission House are grateful for your interest in our ministries at home and around the world. With your help, we could again provide needed funding for projects of our international Missionary Benedictine family: e.g.: health care, education, renovations of churches, schools, and facilities. The support goes even further as we assist women communities and dioceses, especially in Africa, who collaborate with us in many ways. We reached out to our confreres and the people entrusted to their care who live in regions plaqued by famine due to lack of rain. Father Anastasius reported that our office, thanks to the generosity of so many, disbursed in 2025 almost $3,000,000 for projects and humanitarian aid.
Thank you for your loyal support, friendship and prayers.
The current appeal makes reference to the month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I therefore researched the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and found interesting information on Wikipedia. In summary: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque claimed in 1674 that Jesus requested to be honored under the image of his heart, appearing radiant with love. The First Friday Devotions, a practice that is still followed today, became popular. In the early 19th century, the month of June officially was dedicated in honor of the Sacred Heart. Church history shows that Popes Pius IX, Paul VI and John Paul II reiterated to the devotion of the Sacred Heart many times. In the last encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, shortly before his death in 2025, the late Pope Francis states:
“Mission, as a radiation of the love of the heart of Christ,
requires missionaries who are themselves in love and who, enthralled by Christ,
feel bound to share his love that has changed their lives.”
Dilexit Nos, 209
The Missionary Congregation of St. Ottilien, founded in 1884, and its works were entrusted to the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thus, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart became the principal feast for our Congregation.
In his coat of arms, Pope Leo XIV, shows a flaming, pierced heart resting on a book, indicating his roots as a member of the Augustinian Order. St. Augustine’s spirituality can be summarized in the famous quote “Restless is our heart, until it finds rest in you, my God!”
In conclusion, let me share with you part of a prayer that Pope Leo gave to us and the world shortly after his election in 2025.
“Lord, I come to your tender heart today,
to you who have words that set my heart ablaze,
to you who pour out compassion on the little ones and the poor,
on those who suffer, and on all human miseries.
Grant all your children the grace of encountering you.
Change, shape and transform our plans,
so that we seek only you in every circumstance:
in prayer, in work, in encounters, and in daily routine.
From this encounter, send us out on mission,
a mission of compassion for the world
in which you are the source from which all consolation flows. Amen.“
Please check out our current appeal!
On behalf of Fr. Anastasius and my confreres, I thank you for your anticipated support as your financial resources permit to help us in providing care at our “mother and child clinics” offered at our hospitals and dispensaries. Care for vulnerable children is critical! Through early diagnoses, diseases can be prevented. Mothers are educated in caring for their children and families. – We entrust you and your loved ones to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Bro. Tobias, O.S.B.
Director of Development
News Release: Retreat with Fr. Mauritius Wilde
The Right Rev. Abbot Mauritius Wilde, OSB, PhD, will present a one-day retreat titled, On Human Dignity at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on June 6, 2026. We will spend a day with the German mystic Meister Eckhart. In his sermons and writings, he meditates on the immediate presence of God in the human soul. Eckhart particularly likes to stimulate our imagination by using metaphors. Above all, we will explore the question of the extent to which human beings are created in the image of God. Because this is where the dignity or noble essence of every human being derives from. Eckhart shows us how to get in touch with and to respect this dignity within ourselves and others.
Abbot Mauritius is the abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Maria Laach in Germany. Father Mauritius has been a Benedictine monk of Muensterschwarzach Abbey, Germany, since 1985. He studied Philosophy and Theology, then earned his PhD at Tübingen University with a thesis on Meister Eckhart. He worked as teacher and educator at the abbey’s high school and, for eleven years, was the director of the abbey’s publishing house, Vier Türme Verlag. For five years he was the prior of Christ the King Priory near Schuyler. Then he served as prior at Sant’ Anselmo, the Benedictine study house in Rome, Italy. Fr. Mauritius is the author of several books, including Be Yourself: The Call of a Christian (Paulist), and directs retreats regularly. His blog can be found at www.wildemonk.net. For his reflections on the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, listen to Spirit Catholic Radio or visit www.DiscerningHearts.com.
The retreat begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. The program fee is $50; lunch is available for $14.77 (includes tax).
Easter Homily
So here we are, early in the morning, at the tomb. The stone is still there, the grief is still there, and it seems like the story is over.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary aren’t going to the tomb expecting a miracle. They’re carrying loss, confusion, and the kind of heaviness we all know.
Then everything changes.
The earth shakes, the stone is rolled away, and suddenly what looked final, isn’t.
There is something here we really shouldn’t miss, the first people to witness this, the first ones entrusted with the news that Jesus is risen, are women.
In their time, their voices didn’t carry much weight. And yet God chooses them first. - That tells us something important. This tells us God doesn’t work the way the world works. God sees differently, chooses differently.
This is still true TODAY. This still matters today. We’re still figuring out how to listen to the right voices, how to honor people’s dignity, how to not overlook those on the margins.
The resurrection begins with people who simply show up in love.
The angel says, “Don’t be afraid… He’s not here. He’s been raised.”
The Marys are invited to see, and then they’re sent: go and tell.
So, they run off with what I can imagine was a mix of fear and joy. That feels right, doesn’t it? There’s a lot in our world that brings fear, uncertainty, division.
But there’s also real joy, because God is still at work, because death doesn’t get the last word.
But as the ladies are headed to fulfill the task they have been given, Jesus meets them.
Right in the middle of it all. Not when they’ve figured everything out, but while they’re still processing the whole thing, still running.
Jesus says: “Do not be afraid.”
We too need need to hear that. A lot. Just as the Angels spoke to the Shepherds, just as the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, just as God Spoke to Joseph in the Dream, and just as Jesus spoke to the disciples ; Don’t be afraid!
The risen Jesus sends the ladies on their way to TELL the others.
That’s how the Gospel moves forward, someone carries the message. And it starts with the women the world might have overlooked. The women who were just out to do the loving task of visiting the tomb of their beloved teacher and friend.
Today, on this Easter Morning God is asking us to carry the message out into the world.
But God is asking us to see differently. To listen better. We are asked: Who do we over look???
We are asked to recognize hope where we thought there wasn’t any. We are asked to discern the spirits. What voices give life to the world? What things and people give life? What things or people spread discord and violence and hatred? These last ones are not from God, are not part of the GOOD NEWS!
There are still plenty of tombs in our world, things that feel sealed, stuck, beyond fixing. Tombs of hatred, discord, and violence and war. Discrimination of minorities, people of color, the stranger, and of women.
But Easter says God isn’t finished.
Christ is risen. Hope is real. And it’s meant to be shared with all people… he died and arose ONCE…. And FOR ALL!
On this Easter Morning, as we celebrate this act of love, trust that Jesus will meet you along the way, in the in the Word, in the Eucharist and then go and tell the world by your words, but mostly by your lives, the Good News! And above all “do not be afraid”.
Jesus has been raised! Alleluia!
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
Holy Saturday
Then comes Holy Saturday, a day unlike any other. The Church is quiet. The altar is bare. Christ lies in the tomb.
This isn’t simply a day of waiting or preparation, but a day to sit with the reality of death, with absence, with grief. It’s a day when we are invited to stand in solidarity with all who know loss: those who mourn loved ones, those who live in the midst of war and violence, those who carry silent suffering in their hearts. On this day, we don’t rush ahead, we remain in the stillness, trusting that even here, CHRIST is at work in ways we cannot yet see.
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
News Release: Retreat with Father Larry Gillick
The Rev. Larry Gillick, SJ, will present an Ignatian Silent Retreat titled, The Many Births of Jesus at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on May 28 - 31, 2026. This retreat will have presentations about the many ways that Jesus took flesh in the lives of others. In these days of prayer, retreatants will be encouraged to spend time in imaginative contemplations of how Jesus came that we may have life. Prayer will focus not on self-improvement but on Christ-Centered intimacy.
Jesuit Father Larry Gillick was ordained a priest in 1972. His former assignments include Spiritual Director for the younger Jesuits, Rector of the Jesuit Community at Creighton Prep in Omaha, and Superior of Mulumba House. He currently serves as Director of the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton University. He is a sought after retreat master around the country and spiritual director of students, faculty, alumni at Creighton University, and people from far and wide.
The retreat begins on Thursday, at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch. The program fee is $100; room and board charges are additional.
Good Friday
On Good Friday, we come face to face with the cross. We will venerate the wood of the cross, not as a symbol of defeat, but as the place where sin and death are conquered. In that solemn moment, we remember that Christ freely embraced suffering for our sake, and we bring to that cross all the suffering of our world, trusting that none of it is beyond His redeeming love.
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
Join us for The Easter Triduum at Christ the King Priory (St. Benedict Center)
You are invited…
…to celebrate with the monastic community and retreat participants
The Easter Triduum 2026
at Christ the King Priory – St. Benedict Center, Schuyler, NE
April 2, 7:00 PM
HOLY THURSDAY
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
April 3, 3:00 PM
GOOD FRIDAY
The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
April 4, 5:30 PM
Holy Saturday
Evening Prayer for Holy Saturday
No Eucharist today
April 5, 5:00 AM
Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
Please note: There will be no Mass at 9:00 AM
All celebrations will be at St. Benedict Center, 1126 Road I, Schuyler, NE 68661.
1st Sunday Of Lent Homily: Jesus Stands for Us!
In the first reading from Genesis, we see humanity at the very beginning. God forms Adam from the dust of the earth and breathes into him the breath of life. It’s a beautiful image! We are not accidents. We’re not random. We’re personally shaped and personally loved. God breathes His own life into us.
God sets humanity into the garden of paradise. “You may eat of every tree…except for the one in the middle of the garden”. Our story with God begins in generosity.
But the serpent introduces a question: “Did God really say…?” The real temptation is the suggestion that God is holding something back. That God cannot be trusted. That we must take matters into our own hands to be fulfilled.
And that is where the fall happens—not simply in eating fruit, but in doubting God’s goodness, God’s generosity.
In the Gospel today Jesus is in another garden, the garden of the wilderness. Forty days of fasting. Forty days of hunger and of vulnerability and it is in such times and places that the tempter appears.
But this time the story ends differently.
When tempted to doubt God, Jesus does not fall for the tricks, he trusts.
Turn stones to Bread. Prove yourself! TAKE POWER!!
Where our first parents fell, Jesus stands!
And here is the good news for us on this first Sunday of Lent: Jesus stands for us, with us.
Lent is not about proving how strong we are. It is not a spiritual competition. It is not about holding on tight till Lent is over. Lent is about learning to trust again.
Most of our temptations are not dramatic. They are subtle. They are a whisper:
“God isn’t coming through for you.”
“You need to secure yourself.”
“You deserve this.”
“Just this once won’t matter.”
“I am a holier monk than he is! I am a better Christian than them.”
“They speak a different language so they cannot be trusted.”
But the Gospel tells us something joyful: temptation does not have to define us. Failure does not define us. Christ defines us.
The message is of HOPE!! Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert. The desert is not outside God’s plan. The struggle is not a sign that God has abandoned us. Most of the time it is where we grow strongest.
Life can be a desert for some, and Lent is a desert, but both are a desert walked with Christ.
When we fast or abstain from things, we are not punishing ourselves. We are saying, “God, You are enough.”
When we examine our lives, when we examine our thoughts and feelings, we are not checking a box. We are saying, “I trust in you God, to remake me in your image”
When we give to the poor and needy, we are living God’s generosity.
When we recognize the humanity in people who are different from us, we live the life he created us to live.
Every small Lenten sacrifice is a yes to God and God’s original plan for us! A relationship of goodness and trust, a RELATIONSHIP of Love.
The Gospel story ends with angels ministering to Jesus. The desert is not permanent. Trust leads to strength, and relationship with God and leads to freedom.
Lent has begun, don’t be discouraged by temptation or failure. Expect it. But more importantly, expect grace. When temptation comes, it’s not an opportunity to prove yourself, but an opportunity to choose trust, an opportunity to stand with the one that stood, and stands with and for us.
This week, when something tugs at you: impatience, discouragement, self-reliance, anger, selfishness, racism, hatred, mistrust of the neighbor who is different, pause and say simply: “Lord breathe your life into me again!”
That pause could change everything!
Lent is not about the fruit in the garden or the stones in the desert, but about whether we will trust the God who has breathed His life into us.
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
Spring Newsletter from Fr. Thomas
Dear Friends,
Spring is the season of lengthening days. The light and the warmth of the sun bring forth new life. Spring is also the season of Easter when, at the Vigil, we carry the light of the Easter candle, representing Christ risen from the dead, into the dark church.
Sermon on the Mount, Thomas Ingmire, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
One of my favorite illuminations of The Saint John’s Bible is the one on the Beatitudes with which Jesus opened his Sermon on the Mount. The text is written in golden characters. The print shown here does not fully do it justice because in the original (and also in our Heritage Edition) the gold leaf of the letters literally jumps off the page! Gold represents God at work in this bible, the light of God present in this biblical scene. It gives witness to Jesus, the light.
On the right side we see the paradoxical word “Blessed,” written many times in bright colors. How can the poor, the mourning, and the meek be called blessed and favored by God? Jesus knew about their preciousness, their dignity, and proclaimed it. He also knew that those not attached to material things are often more open to the gifts of God. Jesus’ transgression of boundaries in order to make known God’s love for all and solidarity with all, led him to the cross. But his resurrection from the dead showed him as the Light that the darkness has not overcome. – A retreat at St. Benedict Center is an opportunity to open our hearts anew to Christ, to his Good News, and to God’s amazing gifts to us.
At St. Benedict C33enter, we are happy that often a friendly monk welcomes you now (again): Br. Moses spent some time in Germany but is back with us! – Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the marriage retreat titled, Blessed are the Merciful with Deacon Dr. Steve Doran and his wife Sharon on April 10 – 11. – Also, I’d like to point you to the one-day retreat with Abbot Mauritius Wilde on June 6. Abbot Mauritius, of Maria Laach Abbey in Germany, was formerly our prior here in Schuyler. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator
Ash Wednesday
Today, on Ash Wednesday, we begin Lent not with guilt, not with dread, but with an invitation.
Listen to the tenderness in the first reading the prophet Joel: “Return to me with your whole heart.”
Not, “Return to me once you’ve fixed yourself.”
Not, “Return to me once you’ve proven you’re worthy.”
Just: RETURN
Lent is not about impressing God. It is about turning back.
Saint Paul tells us: “Now is a very acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.” That’s the good news. Not tomorrow. Not after we get our act together. Not after we’ve conquered our worst habits.Now.
In Latin the word is Hodie. TODAY…. NOW…. THIS MOMENT! God is ready NOW - Today.
In the Gospel, Jesus talks about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. But notice something important. He doesn’t say if you pray. He says when. He assumes we want relationship with the God. And Jesus tells us: do it in secret.
Why? Because Lent is not a performance. It continues the love story that is Christianity, the love story of being a Christian. This last weekend we had a group at the retreat house of Retrouvaille. It is a program to help troubled married couples. Lent is kind of our Retrouvaille with God.
Non of us are perfect, none of us doing everything right, but we have chances every year, EVERY DAY to work on our relationship with God and with those around us. If you think you are perfect, see me after Mass and we will have a talk! 😊
In a few moments we will hear the words:
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
It is an invitation to trust the good news, if you remember GOSPEL means GOOD NEWS!!
Repentance doesn’t mean beating ourselves up. In Scripture it means turning around, changing direction. We turn not because we are rejected, but because we are wanted.
Joel says, “Rend your hearts, not your garments.” In other words, don’t just make outward gestures, let God reach your heart. Let God soften what has hardened. Let God heal what has grown tired. Let God rekindle what has cooled.
The beautiful thing is, that God is eager to do this. Joel says God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness.” That is the God we are returning to.
Lent, then, is not forty days of spiritual misery. It is forty days of clearing space, cleaning house. Space so God can love us more deeply. Space so we can learn to love God, but especially OTHERS more deeply. Space so joy can return.
It’s not about giving up chocolate. It’s not about eating less. It’s not about making promises we will not keep. It is about repenting, turning, making things new, making them right. Things like what Pope Leo invited us to do: Fast from harsh words. Turning our language into love and friendship. Fast from judging others. Turning our thoughts to love and service.
God who sees in secret sees all of it. And God delights in it.
Today, receive the ashes with hope. Walk into Lent with the intent to TURN BACK TO THE GOSPEL. BELIEVING MEANS NOT JUST THINKING BUT DOING AS WELL! IT TAKES THAT TURNING!
We can have confidence that God will give us grace to repair where there has been less than Good News, and Love.
God already is near, waiting for us.
“Repent and believe in the Gospel” GOOD NEWS!
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
Saturday Reflection: Jesus Feeding the 4000
In today’s Gospel, a crowd has been with Jesus for three days. They are hungry, tired, and far from home. The disciples see a problem: there is not enough.
Jesus sees a possibility: someone must be fed.
Seven loaves. A few fish. A wilderness. Thousands of people.
From the perspective of the disciples, scarcity.
From the perspective of Christ, mission.
Jesus does not simply drop bread from heaven. He takes what the disciples already have. He blesses it. Breaks it. Gives it back to them, and they distribute it.
The miracle is not only multiplication.
The miracle is participation.
That is exactly why today the Church remembers Saints Cyril and Methodius.
They looked at the Slavic peoples and many Christians of their time thought: they don’t have the right language, the right culture, the right preparation.
Scarcity thinking.
But the saints saw what Christ sees: God already planted seeds there. So instead of forcing people to come to the Gospel’s culture, they brought the Gospel into the people’s language. They took what existed ( words, sounds, stories)blessed it, and handed Christ back to them in a way they could receive.
They trusted the same truth revealed in the Gospel today:
God does not wait for perfect conditions.
God multiplies what is offered.
We often think, I don’t have enough faith… enough patience… enough courage… enough holiness to help anyone.
But the disciples didn’t have enough bread either.
Christ never asks us for abundance.
He asks us for availability.
When we place our small kindness, our listening ear, our imperfect prayer, our limited energy into his hands, he feeds someone with it. Maybe a family member. Maybe a stranger. Maybe someone quietly starving for hope.
We receive Christ so that someone else may receive Christ through us.
At this Eucharist, the Lord again takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it, and then sends us out.
Like the disciples.
Like Cyril and Methodius.
What we have is small.
What Christ does with it is never small.
~ Fr. Adam Patras, OSB
Lenten Appeal
Lent invites us into deeper prayer and gratitude as we reflect on Christ’s journey to Easter. This holy season reminds us to live with joy and spiritual longing, just as St. Benedict encouraged us to prepare our hearts for the Feast of Feasts.
This year’s appeal focuses on the growing needs of House St. Bernard in Kipili, Tanzania — a mission foundation of Holy Spirit Abbey that serves young families and children. As families settle in this beautiful but rapidly changing region, there is a pressing need for a kindergarten and qualified teachers where children can learn, play, and grow in both education and faith.
Kindergarten teachers are urgently needed to help lay a strong foundation for these children’s futures. Your support, through prayer and, if you are able, a financial gift, will help educate teachers, provide nutritious meals, and ensure a safe space for learning and community growth.
Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of the young, the vulnerable, and their families. Thank you for your generosity and for keeping this mission and its people in your prayers.