Category Archives: Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflections

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyApril 5, 2021 We are sons and daughters of God and citizens of His kingdom.To be reborn in the Spirit is to enter that society in which God is honored and obeyed. Those who willingly accept God’s rule in their lives become citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom and members of God’s family – His adoptedContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 4-5-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyMarch 29, 2021257 3-29-21 Monday of Holy Week John 12:1-11 God’s Love is unbounded and poured out in gratitude. The Gospel of John records that, the whole house was filled with the perfume of the ointment (John 12:3).  What Mary had done brought sweetness not only in the physical sense, but the spiritual sense as well.Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 3-29-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyMarch 22, 2021047A 4-18-21 3rd SOE Luke 24:35-48 In the Gospel of John, the Lord says: “In this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.”                                    Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 3-22-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyMarch 15, 2021244 3-15-21 4th WOL John 4:43-54 27.1 27 PERSONAL PRAYER When Jesus had a need for prayer, He found a place to pray in, which was usually off byHimself away from other people. There are many passages in the Gospel narrating that Jesushas withdrawn from the crowds and has goneContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 3-15-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyMarch 8, 2021237 3-8-21 3rd WOL Luke 4:24-30 Nothing in John of God’s early life foreshadowed his future sanctity. He ran away as a boy from his home in Portugal, tended sheep and cattle in Spain, and served as a soldier against the French, and afterward against the Turks.  When about fortyContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 3-8-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyMarch 1, 2021230 3-1-21 2nd WOL Luke 6:36-38 Overcome evil with mercy and goodness How can we possibly love those who cause us grief, harm, or ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who trust in His love and who seek His wisdom and help.Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 3-1-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyFebruary 22, 2021535 2-22-21 1st WOL Matthew 16:13-19 This is a book report. The book is “Faith of our Founding Father.”By Janice Connell Today is the birthday of the father of our nation George Washington. When the news media mentions George Washington, they will invariably mention that he was a Mason. Masons believeContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 2-22-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyFebruary 15, 2021335 2-15-21 6th WOT Mark 8:11-13 Let us open our hearts to Jesus and the sign that He has given all mankind. Was Jonah really three days & three nights in the belly of the whale? Many years ago, some fellow workers at Chrysler said to me that Jonah wasContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 2-15-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s HomilyFebruary 8, 2021329 2-8-21 5 th WOT Mark 6:53-56 Faith is an entirely free gift which God makes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believing and trusting in God to act in our lives is only possible by the grace and help of the Holy Spirit who moves theContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 2-8-21”

323 2-1-21 4th WOT Mark 5:1-21 Jesus took pity on the man who was overtaken by a legion of evil spirits.  The destructive force of these demons is evident for all who can see as they flee and destroy a herd of swine.  After Jesus freed the demoniac the whole city came out to meetContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 2-1-21”

519 1-25-21 Conversion of Paul 3rd WOT Mark 16:15-18 The Grace of God changed St Paul from a persecutor of Christians to a messenger ofthe Gospel.This fact teaches us that our faith has its basis in grace and the free correspondenceof each person.The best way to bring about the unity of Christians is to encourageContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-25-21”

311 1-18-21 2nd WOT Mark 2:18-22 The presence of the Bridegroom, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.“From the time that the incarnation of our Savior was first promised to the patriarchs,it was always awaited by many upright souls with tears and mourning – until he came.From that time when, after his resurrection, he ascended to heaven, allContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-18-21”

January 11, 2021Homily on the Inch What is an inch? Well, it is one five hundred millionth of the diameter of the earth fromthe north pole to the south pole. Who would know that but the creator? But in whatconstruction was the inch first used, it was used in building the great pyramid, Giza.Some ofContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-11-21”

212 1-4-21 St Elizabeth Ann Seton Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25  The many enforced separations from her dear ones by death & distance, served to draw Elizabeth’s heart to God and eternity. The accepting & embracing of God’s will- “The Will,” as she called it – would be a keynote in her spiritual life. Elizabeth’s deep concernContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-4-21”

698 12-28-20 Holy Innocents Matthew 2:13-18 In government today there are those who propose that when a child is born naturally that the Doctor would consult with the mother of the child as to whether the child should be permitted to live, or its life be terminated. The first objection to this practice should beContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-28-20”

197 12-21-20 4th WOA Luke 1:39-45 St Thomas Aquinas said, “We pay God honor and reverence, not for his sake (because He is of himself full of glory to which no creature can add anything), but for our own sake, because by the very fact that we revere and honor God, our mind is subjectContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-21-20”

187 12-14-20 3rd WOA St John of the Cross A man of very small physical stature, as a poet and mystic, is among the giants. What was rare about him was the combination of deep poetic sensitivity and articulateness with the rigorous thought-training of a Thomist philosophy and theology. Written as commentaries on his pomes,Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-14-20”

181 12-7-20 2nd WOA St Ambrose Ambrose was of a noble family, and was governor of Milan A.D. 374, when a bishop was to be chosen for that great see. As the Arian heretics were many and fierce, he was present to preserve order during the election. Though only a catechumen, it was the willContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-7-20”

Monday, November 30, 2020      Saint Andrew was one of the fishermen of Bethsaida, and brother of Saint Peter, and became a disciple of Saint John the Baptist.  He seemed always eager to bring others into notice; when called himself by Christ on the banks of the Jordan, his first thought was to go in searchContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-30-20”

503 11-23-20 34 th WOT Luke 21:1-4 Do you know the joy of selfless giving and generous love for others? True love does not calculate – it spends lavishly! Jesus drove this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing people offering their tithes. Jesus praised a poor widow who gaveContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-23-20”