Echoes of St. John: Homilies and Reflections

Fr Michael Therese Scheerger

Reflections and homilies rooted in the Gospel of John and the wisdom of the Church, helping you walk the journey of faith. Join Fr. Michael, a priest of the Community of St. John in New Zealand, as he unpacks the Word of God, explores the depths of grace, and leads you to encounter Christ, the Word made flesh.

  1. Aug 23

    “You Are the Christ — and He Reveals Who You Are” – Homily – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

    Who are you? The Gospel suggests that the deepest answer begins somewhere unexpected: not by looking first at yourself, but by looking at Christ. In this homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr Michael reflects on Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi: “You are the Christ.” Surrounded by competing beliefs and voices, Peter makes a judgment of faith that pierces through the confusion and recognises who Jesus truly is. But something remarkable happens next. After Peter says to Jesus, “You are the Christ,” Jesus turns to Peter and says, in effect, “You are Peter.” In recognising Christ, Peter begins to discover his own identity and vocation. That discovery is not completed in a single moment. Peter will misunderstand Jesus, deny Him, repent, carry responsibility, suffer, and gradually become the “rock” Christ has called him to be. Christian vocation unfolds in the same way. We discover who we are by fixing our eyes upon Christ, receiving His grace, and allowing Him to form us through fidelity and the Cross. Whether the call is lived as a parent, priest, religious, worker, friend or member of a community, Christ sees not only who we are now, but who we are called to become. The invitation of the Gospel is therefore deeply personal: dare to look toward Christ and say with Peter, “You are the Christ.” Then allow Him to tell you who you are.

    “You Are the Christ — and He Reveals Who You Are” – Homily – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

  2. Aug 23

    “What We Give to Christ Is Never Lost” – Homily – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    Where is the Christian life leading us? In this homily for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr Michael reflects on Mary as the one who has already reached the destination toward which every Christian life is moving. The Assumption is not only something beautiful that happened to Mary. It reveals something about our own destiny: God desires to bring the whole person—body and soul—into the fullness of life with Him. Recalling a moment of prayer from his early years as a religious brother, Fr Michael reflects on Mary’s body as the body she gave completely to God: the feet that went to Elizabeth, the hands that held Jesus, the voice that said yes to God, the heart that loved Him, and the body that remained beside Him at the Cross. Mary shows us that surrender to God does not diminish the human person. What we truly give to Christ is never lost; He receives it and brings it to fulfilment. The Christian life therefore becomes a pilgrimage of offering our hands, our feet, our minds, our time and our hearts to Christ in the ordinary circumstances of daily life.

    “What We Give to Christ Is Never Lost” – Homily – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

  3. Aug 10

    “Christ Comes to Us in the Storm” – Homily – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

    What happens to our faith when the wind rises and life no longer feels under control? In this homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr Michael reflects on the disciples caught in the storm and on Peter stepping out of the boat toward Jesus. The storm itself becomes a place of encounter: Christ comes to His disciples precisely when they are afraid and struggling. Peter is able to move toward Jesus while his attention remains fixed on Him, but fear begins to overwhelm him when the wind and the waves become his focus. The same dynamic appears in the Christian life. Difficulties are real, but they do not have to become the centre around which everything else revolves. Faith does not mean pretending that the storm is absent. It means learning to recognise Christ within it, trusting Him enough to move toward Him, and knowing that even when we begin to sink we can still cry out, “Lord, save me.” The invitation is simple: do not allow fear to have the final word. Keep turning toward Christ.

    “Christ Comes to Us in the Storm” – Homily – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

  4. Aug 10

    “The Feast of the Kingdom” – Homily – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

    What kind of kingdom does Jesus establish? In this homily for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr Michael reflects on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes by placing it between two striking scenes in Matthew’s Gospel: Herod’s banquet, which ends with the death of John the Baptist, and Jesus walking on the water, where He reveals His divine identity. The contrast is stark. Herod’s feast is for the powerful and elite, marked by seduction, judgement and the protection of worldly power. Jesus’ feast takes place in a deserted place among ordinary people who have followed Him because they hunger for His word. He feeds them not to increase His own power, but because He is moved by mercy. The twelve baskets left over point toward the fullness of God’s people and a Kingdom characterised by abundance, mercy and openness to all. This is the Kingdom Christians ask for every time they pray, “Thy Kingdom come”: that our families, parishes and communities might increasingly become places where God’s Word is received, mercy is practised and everyone can begin to taste the life of heaven.

    “The Feast of the Kingdom” – Homily – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

  5. Jul 31

    “The One Thing Necessary: Discerning the Kingdom of God” – Homily – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

    In a world filled with competing voices, distractions and “gravity wells,” how do we discern what truly matters? Reflecting on Solomon’s prayer for a discerning mind and Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, Fr Michael explains that discernment is the ability to distinguish what is merely attractive from what is essential. Many things compete to become the centre of our lives, but only one can hold everything together: God and His will. The Kingdom of God is already present—in the Word of God, the Eucharist and God’s hidden work within the soul. Like the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price, it is worth surrendering everything to possess. To discover it, however, we must step away from constant noise and enter the peaceful silence in which God speaks to the heart.

    “The One Thing Necessary: Discerning the Kingdom of God” – Homily – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

  6. Jul 19

    "The Hidden Government of God" – Homily – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    How does God govern His Kingdom? In this homily for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr Michael reflects on Jesus' three parables from Matthew 13—the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast—to reveal the surprising way God works in the world. Rather than ruling by force or immediate judgement, God governs with perfect goodness, patience, and wisdom. He allows time for conversion instead of destroying the sinner with the sin. He begins with the smallest seed of grace, patiently bringing forth great works through faithful hearts. Like yeast hidden in dough, His grace works quietly from within, transforming individuals, families, the Church, and society from the inside out. This homily is an invitation to trust God's patient governance, nurture the seed of faith, and allow His grace to permeate every part of our lives.

    "The Hidden Government of God" – Homily – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  7. Jul 16

    "Preparing the Soil of the Heart" – Homily – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Why do some people hear the Gospel yet remain unchanged, while others bear abundant fruit? In this homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr Michael reflects on Jesus' Parable of the Sower and His surprising words about those who "hear but do not understand." Using simple images—a muddy window, an untended garden, and weeds that steal nutrients—this homily explores the real obstacles to hearing God's voice. The problem is not that God fails to speak or that we are incapable of understanding. More often, distractions, shallow roots, anxiety, pride, and sin prevent the Word of God from taking deep root in our hearts. This reflection is a practical invitation to remove whatever blocks God's grace, cultivate an interior life of prayer, and allow His Word to bear fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold in our families, our parish, and the world.

    "Preparing the Soil of the Heart" – Homily – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  8. Jul 4

    The Little Way: Why Christ’s Yoke Is Easy – Homily – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

    What does Jesus mean when He says His yoke is easy and His burden is light? This homily explores the heart of Christian trust through the spirituality of childhood. Drawing inspiration from Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Fr Michael reflects on how prayer, the Eucharist, and childlike confidence allow us to carry even life’s greatest crosses with peace.

    The Little Way: Why Christ’s Yoke Is Easy – Homily – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
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Reflections and homilies rooted in the Gospel of John and the wisdom of the Church, helping you walk the journey of faith. Join Fr. Michael, a priest of the Community of St. John in New Zealand, as he unpacks the Word of God, explores the depths of grace, and leads you to encounter Christ, the Word made flesh.

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