A good friend of mine has a lovely tradition. Whenever he’s traveling, which is often, no matter where he is or how busy the day has been, he calls his wife every evening. Not because he’s obligated to, but because he loves her. That daily phone call is more than a check-in—it’s a rhythm of love, an intentional way to stay connected. I’m sure his wife treasures it, but the call isn’t about duty; it’s about desire, relationship, and love.
That’s how our relationship with God is meant to be. Prayer, at its heart, is not just a commandment—it’s a desire to remain connected. Yes, Scripture tells us to “pray always,” but the deeper invitation is to want to talk to God every day, to miss that time if we don’t have it. Sunday Mass is similar. The Church teaches that it is an obligation, but those who live in a deep relationship with Christ know it is much more. It is a reunion of love. We come because we want to be here—not because we have to be. And when we miss it, we feel the ache of absence.
While I was away on vacation this summer, I felt that ache. I missed our Sunday Mass community deeply. Even though I went to Mass at local churches wherever I was, I made a point to tune in each Sunday at 9 a.m. to our livestream—just to feel close to our parish family. That’s what love looks like. That’s what it means to be “on fire” for the Lord.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says something startling and passionate: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49). He’s not talking about destruction—he’s talking about desire. The fire He wants to ignite is the flame of love, passion, and purpose in our hearts. It’s a fire that burns away indifference and rekindles our longing for God.
As we return from vacations and begin the school year—St. Simon School starts this Wednesday—we’re invited to rekindle that fire. Let this be a time to recommit ourselves to daily prayer, to set aside a few moments each day to speak with Jesus as we would a loved one. Let us also recommit to our Sundays—coming to Mass not from obligation, but from relationship. Because we want to be here. Because we’d miss it if we weren’t.
This weekend, we especially extend a warm invitation to all our young people heading off to college. Come to Mass and receive a special blessing at all our weekend liturgies. We want to send you forth with the fire of the Holy Spirit in your hearts. May this blessing encourage you to keep praying each day, to find a parish or campus ministry to connect with, and to remember you are always part of this St. Simon family. We are proud of you, we love you, and we want your hearts to be on fire for Christ!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Rummage Sale and has been helping sort, organize and price items. The collection has wrapped up, and next week the amazing team of volunteers prepare for the sale days on Friday and Saturday. If you have some spare time over the next week, stop by to help them in the gym or drop off some breakfast foods to nourish our volunteers. More information is on the Rummage Sale webpage here or sign up on Engage here or email Pattie and Nancy at rummagesale@stsimon.org.
As our school reopens this week and our parish life comes back into full swing, we welcome everyone back with joy! Whether you’re returning from travel, preparing for a new academic year, or just re-entering the rhythm of ordinary time, we invite you to pray each day and gather each Sunday with us. May the Lord set our hearts ablaze with faith, hope, and love.
Let the fire of God’s love burn brightly in all we do.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan