Homily for Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr (Year A - 6/1/2026)

In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ parable of the tenants. In the parable, God is the “man [who] planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower.” We are the “tenant farmers” whom he “leased [the vineyard] to” when he “left on a journey.” In other words, we are stewards of the manifold blessings and graces that God has bestowed on us in our lives - from our families to our jobs to our gifts and talents, essentially, everything that we have, most especially, our own lives and one another. The servants in the parable represent the many prophets that we hear about throughout the Old Testament, whom the people of God put to death. 

After sending his servants, the owner of the vineyard decided to send his beloved son. This should sound familiar to us because we heard it in the Gospel yesterday on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (John 3:16-18):

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. [And here is the hinge, my sisters and brothers in Christ] Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Now, what struck me the most in the parable of the tenants is what the man said when he sent his beloved son. He said, “They will respect my son.” Unfortunately, not only did the tenant farmers not respect his son, they seized him and put him to death.

And so, my sisters and brothers in Christ, we ask ourselves this question: “Do we respect the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?” Or do we reject him like the “stone” that the builder rejected? God does not need our respect; however, we have respect, or fear, of the Lord for our own good. It is as Saint Peter wrote: the “grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” so that “through the knowledge of him” we “may come to share in the divine nature” of the Son of God who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Saint Peter tells us how we can grow in our relationship with our Jesus Christ, namely by making “every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.” This is what Jesus teaches us in the Great Commandment, saying: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Love leads to mutual affection, to devotion, to endurance, to self-control, to knowledge, and, ultimately, to virtue that increases our faith in and relationship with God.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060126.cfm

Mary, Mother of the Church - KC Austin Chapter - A Report of the Spiritual Director (5/25/2026)

Worthy Chapter President and Brother Knights,

I bring you greetings one final time from our State Chaplain, Bishop Emeritus Mulvey (Diocese of Corpus Christi), and our Associate State Chaplain, Fr. Chen, whom I am in contact. As our Worthy Diocesan Deputy said, the Change of Power Meeting occurred recently so my time as the Assistant to the State Chaplain for the Texas State Council has concluded. It has been a blessing to serve my brother Knights in the State of Texas in this capacity these past two years.

Additionally, as our Worthy Chapter President mentioned in his report, there is the link to information on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and Consecration of the New Cathedral Altar, which will happen on June 4, 2026.

Finally, our Worthy Chapter Chaplain, Fr. Charlie Garza, cannot join us for this meeting because of obligations at Holy Trinity Seminary. However, he encouraged me to talk about Mother Mary in the Spiritual Director Report, after all,  yesterday was Pentecost so today is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Therefore, I will reflect on this article in the "Columbia" by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori, titled "Mary's Interior Freedom."

In the article, the Supreme Chaplain asks this question: “[How] was Mary so free that she could say “yes” to the Lord’s singular plan for her life. . .?” Well, according to the Archbishop Lor, the answer is: “Mary’s complete freedom from sin. . . she was preserved from original sin by a singular grace of God, and throughout her life she committed no actual sin. . . Freedom from sin enabled Mary to assent to God’s will, but it did not preserve her from suffering. . . She endured hardship and misunderstanding. . . Because she was free from sin, Mary could assent to and bear the suffering her vocation entailed, thus fully participating in Christ’s self-offering.”

Houston, we have a problem! The Archbishop recognized that, “[unlike] the Blessed Virgin Mary, none of us is spared original sin and its effects.” However, there is hope for us, because “[we] are redeemed from sin by Christ’s death and resurrection, and we are given the grace we need to overcome sin — especially through the sacraments, including reconciliation.”

Yet, we put major obstacles in our path because “[we] may feel as though “the narrow way” to eternal life compromises our freedom. . . the Ten Commandments, the precepts of the Church and the Beatitudes can seem like a moral straitjacket rather than the path to freedom.” How many people do we know have left the Catholic Church because of the Truth that she proclaims in the world? Therefore, our challenge is this, “[conversion] of life hinges on rejecting that lie and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.” I recently minister to a couple preparing for marriage who feels the attacks of the Evil One. They are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church and are growing closer in their relationship with God. The Evil One hates this so they now have a target on their backs.

We, too, have targets on our backs when our relationship with God deepens through prayer and spiritual growth. We walk by faith, and we turn our Mother Mary in our times of need and ask for her intercession. As the Supreme Chaplain reflects: “God’s grace works in our humanity (as it did in Mary’s) — our minds, hearts, wills and appetites. Gaining freedom from the power of sin can feel difficult, but once liberated by God’s grace, we discover that, like Mary, we are able to say “yes” to God, to our families and to those in need.”

As we heard in the Gospel, on the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, or Lord Jesus Christ, as he hung on the Cross, gave us to his Mother, saying: “Woman, behold, your son.” Let us, therefore, turn to Mary with confidence!

Here is a link to my previous report from the Chapter meeting in April: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2026/04/reflecting-on-fr-charlie-garzas.html

Deacon Phúc’s challenges for all Knights for the month of June

• PERSONAL & FAMILY: 
• Pray the Rosary regularly. October is dedicated to the Rosary. (Brother Knights, there is a reason we receive the Holy Rosary when we become a Knight. We need our Mother to guide us on the right path in service of God and his people.)
• Do a Marian Consecration, a consecration is a “formal entrusting of your life into Mary’s hands, trusting in her to guide and protect you on your journey with her Son.” Here is a link the the "33 Days to Morning Glory" Consecration to Jesus Through Mary that I mentioned at the meeting.
• Celebrate Marian feast days. May is dedicated to Mary. 
• Read Marian books and Scriptures (Pray the Rosary, because the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary tells the story of our Lord Jesus Christ through the eyes of his Mother Mary.). 
• Visit Marian shrines and statutes (or have Marian statutes and images in your home).
• COUNCIL: See above.

Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: Ema & CARVE (19th Anniversary Edition)

We will be traveling quite a bit over the next few months so we decided to focus of food for our 19th wedding anniversary.

My wife decided she wanted Mediterranean food and picked Ema. Ema is located at Domain Northside across from Culinary Dropout. The wait-staff wore white shirts and khakis so I immediately felt like I was on vacation somewhere. The interior decor was a little "busy" for me but it was a pleasant atmosphere nevertheless.

For our meal, we started with the Roasted Walnut Hummus and it was delightful. We both enjoyed the kumquat chutney and thought that it really elevated the hummus. For our meal, we shared the Braised Short Rib Sandwich with fries and the Grilled Oishii Shrimp (pictured below). They were DELICIOUS! For dessert, we had the Vegan Coconut Cremeux and, of course, I had to have drip coffee with my dessert.

Braised Short Rib Sandwich - the meat so do tender and the beef ju went gave it so much flavor.

Grilled Oishii Shrimp was amazing! There was A LOT of red pepper flakes on the shrimps!

We really enjoyed Ema and would definitely come back again. Alternatively, we might check out Abba, which is the "father" restaurant to Ema. Ema means "mother" in Hebrew and Abba  means "father" in Hebrew. Although, our waitress did warn us that Abba is located on South Congress (a.k.a., SoCo) so parking will be a challenge. . . CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

For me, I gluttoned for meat so we went to CARVE American Grille, a part of the Perry's Restaurant group. We have been to Perry's at the downtown Austin and Domain Northside locations for pork chop Fridays. CARVE was a whole other level of delicious meats! Also, we like The Grove area. It is like the Domain but much quieter. Another restaurant that we have eaten at in The Grove is Ling, which is an elevated dim sum restaurant.

As we entered CARVE, we see this. . . mouth-watering cuts of meats on full display for all to admire! It was certainly a sight to behold. 

For our meal, since neither of us ate lunch that day, we went all in with the CARVE Board. This meat-chuterie board included the following cooked to perfection! Look at the masterpiece of meats!

14 oz. CARVE Smoked Sliced NY Strip, 14 oz. Sliced Caramelized Prime Rib, 10 oz. Center-cut Filet Mignon; 4 Hog Heavens, 4 Shrimp Brochettes, and 4 Lobster Corn Dog Balls. Served with au jus and Truffle Merlot sauce and steaks topped with CARVE Steak Butter.

We also added a side of their Sweet Sriracha Brussels Sprouts because, well, we have to eat our vegetables, right?

It was an amazing experience and our waiter was very attentive to our needs. I particularly liked they were cautious about my wife's food allergy because not only did our waitress made sure but the head person in the kitchen also came and talked to us.

We has a memorable foodie celebration of our 19th anniversary! Cheers!

. . .

Other Ngon Quá Foodie blogs:

• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: Plank https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/03/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-plank.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: JINYA Ramen https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/03/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-jinya-ramen.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: Maxine's Gumbo House https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/03/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-maxines.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: 16th Anniversary Edition https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/05/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-16th-anniversary.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: Deckhand Oyster Bar (Round Rock) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/04/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-deckhand-oyster.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: Sushi Koen (Round Rock) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/07/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-sushi-koen-round.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: K Ramyun (Cedar Park) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2025/04/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-k-ramyun-cedar-park.html
• Ngon Quá Foodie Blog: Saigon Quan (Austin) https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2025/04/ngon-qua-foodie-blog-saigon-quan-austin.html

Homily for Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Year A - 5/27/2026)

In today’s Gospel, we heard the sons of Zebedee, James and John, asked Jesus to allow them to “sit one at [his] right and the other at [his] left.” In response, Jesus helped them to understand what they are asking and, more importantly, what is required of them, saying: “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." In other words, to be disciples of Christ and to come and follow Jesus is to suffer with Jesus, but eternal glory is for God the Father to judge and give to “those for whom it has been prepared.”

My sisters and brothers in Christ, what this means is for us to realize that when we pray, when we fast, and when we give alms, we do all these things out of love for God and our neighbors, not for power nor vainglory, in this life and certainly not in eternal life. All the good we do in our lives, we do for God because of who God is to us and what He has done for us. Saint Peter tells us in the first reading: we “realize that [we] were ransomed from [our] futile conduct. . . not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished Lamb. . . so that [our] faith and hope are in God. . . [We] have been born anew [through Baptism], not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God. . . the word of the Lord remains forever.”

This is what it means to be a servant leader, of which our Lord Jesus Christ is the model par excellence, as he tells us, saying: “[The] Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This is what it means for us to drink the chalice that Jesus drank from and be baptized with the baptism with which Christ was baptized, for us to be a servant of the Suffering Servant, who was born of the lowly servant - the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we become leaders who seek power and our own interests, we cause others to be “indignant” because these types of leaders “lord [their authority] over” others. Rather, Jesus calls us to be servant leaders who unite others in faith, hope, and love, just like Jesus did and continues to do in the world today.

It is as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said, "The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." That greatness lies in Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, the Crucified One, who is the servant leader par excellence, because “did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052726.cfm

Homily for Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter (Year A - 5/18/2026)

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse in which he talks about his departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Yesterday, on Ascension Sunday, we heard from the conclusion of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus “was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight” (Acts 1:9). Before he ascended to be at the right hand of the Father, “Jesus approached [the disciples] and said to them, ‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.’”

My sisters and brothers in Christ, this promise from our Lord Jesus Christ that he will be with us until the end of the age is through the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we received at Baptism and sealed with at Confirmation. Jesus’ promise to be with us until the end of the age, through his Spirit, should give us the courage to live boldly as disciples of Christ in the midst of the troubles in the world that can rob us of the peace that God desires for us in his Son However, as Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, he has conquered the world and so we have faith that the troubles in the world, and more specifically, those in our own lives too shall pass.

Throughout Sacred Scripture, the inspired words of God through the Holy Spirit, we find this promise and it gives us hope. From Ecclesiastes (3:1-9), we hear: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die. . . A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. . . a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. . . A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Life is full of ups and downs. Jesus does not promise that life will be easy. What Jesus promises is that he will not leave us “orphans” (John 14:18) but that where he is there we may also be with him (14:3).

Moreover, in his Second Letter to the Corinthians (4:17-18),  Saint Paul tells us: “For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.” And again, in his Letter to the Romans (8:18): “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Someone I know lost her son a few months ago and what she shared with me is a testament to her faith. She wrote: “Our Blessed Mother Mary, I leaned on her more than ever during the time I lost my son. I continue to lean on her to this day and I ask her to give me a small portion of the strength she has to carry this pain. God's plan is beyond our understanding” (May 15, 2026).

My sisters and brothers in Christ, let us find courage to persevere in faith. Let us have hope even in the face of all the troubles in the world, knowing in our hearts that God loves us and desires his peace for all of us. More importantly, inspired by the Holy Spirit who the Father and Son send to us, let us live in the peace of Christ and share his peace with all we encounter in our lives.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051826.cfm

Homily for Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Year A - 5/11/2026)

In today’s Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ prepares us to receive the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, and everything that comes with receiving this gift from our Father in heaven. Let us listen to the words of our Lord, who says: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify. . .” I am reminded of this prayer from the Order of Baptism, during the “Ephaphatha” Rite: “May the Lord Jesus, who made the deaf to hear and the mute to speak, grant that you may soon receive his word with your ears and profess the faith with your lips, to the glory and praise of God the Father.”

Through our Baptism, we are called to listen to the Word of God and speak His Truth in the world. However, Jesus knows that to follow him can be difficult because we will face opposition from those who “have not known either the Father or me” and yet “think he is offering worship to God.” In today’s Gospel, like he does so many times throughout his ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ is upfront with us about the cost to come follow him and be his disciples. It is precisely this reason that Jesus “have told [us] this so that [we] may not fall away,” but be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who he sends from the Father.

My sisters and brothers in Christ, every time I teach a Baptism class or celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, I encourage the parents and godparents to live their lives as authentic witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ, in their words and actions, in such a way that their children and godchildren desire to become disciples of Jesus. What this means for all of us is, we must desire faith, conversion, and transformation in our lives for it to happen because God gives us freewill to come and follow Him through the Holy Spirit that He sends to us. We must cultivate our hearts through faith in God, like Lydia in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostle, who “listened and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized.”

This desire for us to listen to the Word of God with open and attentive hearts and be transformed into disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ reminds me of this “Prayer for Vocations” that I will now share with you.

Jesus our Saviour, your sacred Heart felt compassion when you looked upon the crowd and saw that they were like sheep with a shepherd. We know that the harvest of souls is abundant but the laborers few, so we ask you, the master of the harvest, to send our more laborers. [and here is the hinge] Open my hearts and the hearts of my brothers and sisters to your will and raise up abundant faithful servants of the Gospel - devoted and holy priests, sisters and brothers who will spend themselves for your people in the Diocese of Austin. May none of your flock, won at the price of your blood, be without a shepherd to guide them. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051126.cfm

Prayer for Mother's Day (5/10/2026)

 My prayer for all mothers. . . 🙏🕊❤️

Lord Jesus Christ, you loved your Mother and you loved her to the end. Help us to love our mothers and all mothers with the same love that you loved your Mother.

Bless the bonds of marriage between mothers and their husbands, strengthen the bonds between mothers and their children, and guide them all in love as they navigate their ever-changing relationships through the years, always filled with joy and love.

Pour forth your blessings upon mothers who all carry much burden for love of their families. In times when the cross of motherhood becomes too heavy of a burden, help them to unite their hearts with the Immaculate Heart of your Mother Mary. In doing so, may they feel your loving presence in their lives to strengthen them in the vocation to which you have called them.

We ask all this through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary as we pray. . .

Hail, Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen. 🙏🕊❤️

Links:

A challenge for all fathers for Father's Day: https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/05/reclaiming-faithful-fatherhood.html

Prayer for Mother's Day (5/11/2025): https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2025/05/prayer-for-mothers-day-5112025.html

Prayer for Mother's Day (5/12/2024): https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2024/05/prayer-for-mothers-day-5122024.html

Prayer for Mother's Day (5/14/2023): https://dcnphuc2019.blogspot.com/2023/05/prayer-for-mothers-day-5142023.html