Father Chris Looby

I came across this story this week about a man from Iowa named Jim Koch who did something extraordinary for his wife, Lora, who was battling breast cancer.  He wanted to show her his unwavering love and support during her difficult time.  After Lora underwent a major surgery, Jim decided to re-propose to her, even though they had already been married for 26 years!  This small act of love not only lifted Lora’s spirits but also inspired their entire community. Jim’s gesture was a reminder of the power of love and the impact that small, thoughtful actions can have on others. Jim said, "I’ve known Lora as the most selfless person, and as she was going through this rough patch, I really wanted to give a sign and a reminder of love and commitment."  This simple act of re-proposing brought joy and hope to Lora and served as a beacon of love and compassion for everyone around them. In today's Gospel, we hear a powerful story of Jesus performing the miracle of feeding the five th

  Believe it or not I am in my office sharpening my axe! Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant. The pay was really good, and so were the working conditions. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he would work. The first day, the woodcutter felled 18 trees. “Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!” Motivated by the boss's words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring down 15 trees. The third day, he tried even harder, but he could only manage 10 trees. Day after day, he finished with fewer trees. “I must be losing my strength,” the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I’ve had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been so busy trying to cut trees….” This simple story, my friends, re

  I want to start today by talking about someone many of you might be familiar with: Rick Steves, the travel show host on PBS. If you’ve ever watched his show or read his travel guides, you know that Rick has a wealth of practical advice for travelers. One tip that stands out is his recommendation to pack light—ideally, to use just one carry-on bag and pack for only about a week or ten days. Rick advises this because you’re far less likely to lose carry-on luggage, and it’s always better to travel light. You can do laundry when you run out of clothes and find whatever else you need along the way. This travel advice resonates with today’s Gospel from Mark, where Jesus sends out the Twelve. Jesus gives them some very specific packing instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.” Essentially, Jesus is telling them to travel light. But why would Jesus instruct His disciples this way? Let’s unpack t