Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM The parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector shows us the grammar of prayer. The rules are simple and apply to everyone. The first rule: If you put the “self” at the center, no relationship will work—not for couples, not with children or friends, much less with God. We live and…
The Gospel takes us to a school of prayer from the point of view of a widow, a beautiful figure of a woman, strong and dignified, not giving up, fragile and indomitable at the same time. Jesus told a parable about the need to pray always. But we are so busy, which makes us think…
What’s on your “Bucket List?” You might remember the movie, where Morgan Freedman plays a man with a chronic illness and Jack Nicolson is a wealthy executive. They fly around the world together fulfilling bucket list items. The purpose of the bucket list is to look at the BIG PICTURE of our lives and identify…
Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM The healed Samaritan this Sunday has something to share with us. He wants not only the gift but the Giver. He knows it’s not about the healing but the Healer. He is in awe of a God with his feet in the mud of our streets and eyes on our sores. “The glory…
Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM When Jesus speaks of forgiveness at the highest level, the apostles panic, fearing they will fail, so they ask, “Lord, increase our faith.” Favor that Jesus does not grant because faith is not a “gift” that comes from outside; it’s my response to God’s gifts, with trust after his loving call. The…
Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM Healthy relationships and fellowship Jesus’ proclamation of the Father’s Kingdom doesn’t want to create division between rich and poor, husband and wife, master and servant, Jew and pagan, righteous and sinner. Jesus is not saying that the rich are automatically destined for hell, and the poor are automatically destined for eternal…
Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM Dishonest steward … a model? In this Sunday’s Gospel it is evident that Jesus does not present us with the steward as a model for his dishonesty but for his craftiness. Indeed, at the heart of the text is the Savior’s bitter observation that “the children of this world are craftier…
Thank you for your kind welcome extended to me on my first week as pastor. I am enjoying meeting all of you. You will come to know me as one who enjoys sharing our faith in ways that connect scriptural tradition in a historical context with our journey towards God in our daily life. Please…
Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, CJM God in his mysterious ways has united me to this beautiful and joyful Parish Community of St. James-St. Leo in Solana Beach. Since the time I was the director of the Newman Center at San Diego State University during the early 2000’s, I used to visit St. James some weekends to…
Last Sunday, I began my homily around two points: the reality of gratitude and the sense of mission. A deep spiritual and psychological emotion and faith consolation is filling my heart when I look back at my short years of pastorship at St. James-St. Leo parish. For five years you have welcomed me despite my…