Embracing Humility and Christ's Gift in Our Journey

Summary

It is a true joy to return to this parish, now as a newly ordained priest, and to begin this journey together with you. My heart is full of gratitude and excitement, but also humility, as I recognize my own limitations and inexperience. I ask for your prayers and patience as I grow into this role, knowing that mistakes are inevitable, but also trusting that God works through our weaknesses. Inspired by the words of Pope Leo XIV, I offer you the little that I have and am, aware that my best may not always be enough, but committed to giving all that I can.

Yet, the heart of our gathering is not what I bring, but what Christ offers to each of us. At every Mass, Jesus gives us His very self—His strength, glory, and power—through the gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. This is a gift far greater than anything any priest or person can offer. Our call is to open our hearts to receive this gift, to let Christ’s life fill our own frailty, and to be transformed by His presence.

As we celebrate together, I encourage everyone to pray for openness to this grace, and to remember in prayer not only myself but all priests, seminarians, and those discerning vocations. Let us also give thanks for the faithful service of experienced priests like Father Browning, whose years of dedication inspire us all. May our community be united in prayer, gratitude, and a deepening love for Christ, who is the true source of all we need.

Key Takeaways

- Embracing our own limitations is not a sign of defeat, but an invitation to humility and growth. When we acknowledge our weaknesses, we create space for God’s grace to work in and through us, reminding us that our value is not in perfection but in our willingness to serve and learn. [01:24]

- The offering of Christ in the Eucharist is the central gift of our faith. No matter how little we feel we have to give, Jesus meets us with the fullness of His life, inviting us to receive strength, healing, and transformation beyond our own abilities. [03:44]

- Openness of heart is essential to truly receiving what God desires to give. It is not enough to witness the offering of Christ; we must actively pray for the grace to receive Him deeply, allowing His presence to shape our lives and relationships. [04:19]

- The journey of priesthood—and indeed, of any vocation—is marked by both joy and imperfection. Growth comes through mistakes, patience, and the support of a loving community, reminding us that sanctity is a process, not a destination. [02:22]

- Praying for vocations and for those who serve is a vital responsibility of the Christian community. By supporting priests, seminarians, and those discerning their call, we participate in God’s ongoing work of raising up shepherds for His people and ensuring the life of the Church continues to flourish. [04:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Returning to the Parish
[00:44] - My Journey from Seminarian to Priest
[01:24] - Embracing Newness and Mistakes
[02:22] - Offering What I Have
[03:00] - The Good News of Christ’s Offering
[03:44] - The Gift of the Eucharist
[04:19] - Opening Our Hearts to Receive
[04:49] - Ordination Cards and Prayers
[05:18] - Praying for Priests and Vocations
[05:46] - Celebrating Father Browning’s Anniversary
[06:10] - Gratitude and Final Encouragement

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Embracing Weakness, Receiving Christ

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### Bible Reading

1. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2. John 6:51
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

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### Observation Questions

1. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, what does Paul say about the relationship between weakness and God’s power?
2. According to the sermon, what does Father Ryan say he has to offer the parish as a new priest? [02:22]
3. What is the central gift that Jesus offers at every Mass, as described in the sermon? [03:44]
4. What tradition did Father Ryan mention about ordination cards, and what purpose do they serve? [04:49]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul say he is content with weaknesses and hardships? How does this connect to Father Ryan’s attitude about his own limitations? [01:24]
2. What does it mean for Christ’s power to be “made perfect in weakness”? How might this shape the way we view our own shortcomings?
3. In the sermon, Father Ryan emphasizes the importance of being open to receive Christ’s gift in the Eucharist. Why is openness of heart necessary to truly receive what God wants to give? [04:19]
4. How does praying for priests, seminarians, and vocations help the Church as a whole? What does this say about our role in supporting one another? [04:49]

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### Application Questions

1. Father Ryan admits he will make mistakes as a new priest and asks for patience and prayer. Think of a time when you started something new and felt inadequate. How did you respond, and what would it look like to invite God’s grace into that situation? [01:24]
2. The sermon says, “I offer you the little that I have and am.” Is there an area of your life where you feel like you have “little” to offer? How might God use even your small offerings for His purposes? [02:22]
3. At every Mass, Jesus offers us His strength and life in the Eucharist. When you come to Mass, do you come expecting to receive from Christ, or is it easy to go through the motions? What could help you be more open to His presence? [03:44]
4. Father Ryan encourages us to pray for openness to God’s grace. What is one practical way you can pray for a more open heart this week? [04:19]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of praying for priests, seminarians, and vocations. Do you regularly pray for those in ministry? If not, what is one step you can take to start? [04:49]
6. Father Ryan points to the example of experienced priests like Father Browning. Who in your life has modeled faithful service to Christ? How can you express gratitude or encouragement to them this week? [05:46]
7. The journey of faith is described as a process, not a destination. Where do you see yourself on that journey right now? What is one area where you need to be patient with yourself or others as you grow? [01:24]

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Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Frailty and Weakness
In our humanity, we often feel inadequate, aware of our own frailty and the limits of what we can offer others. Yet, acknowledging our weakness is not a cause for despair but an invitation to humility and honesty before God and one another. When we recognize that our best efforts sometimes fall short, we are reminded that we are not called to perfection on our own, but to trust in the One who is perfect. This posture of humility opens us to receive grace and to grow, even through our mistakes and shortcomings. [02:22]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel most aware of your weakness or inadequacy, and how might you invite God’s grace into that area today?


Day 2: Christ Offers Us His Strength and Glory
While we may only have our limited selves to offer, Jesus Christ offers us everything that He is—His strength, glory, and power—especially in the gift of the Eucharist. At every Mass, we are invited to witness and receive the fullness of Christ’s self-giving love, which far surpasses anything we could ever give. This is not just a symbolic gesture but a real participation in the life and power of Christ, who meets us in our need and fills us with His presence. [03:44]

John 6:51 (ESV)
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Reflection: As you prepare for or reflect on receiving the Eucharist, how can you more intentionally open your heart to the strength and glory Christ offers you?


Day 3: Praying for Open Hearts to Receive God’s Gifts
God’s gifts are abundant, but our hearts must be open to receive them. It is easy to come to Mass distracted or closed off, but the Lord invites us to pray for openness—to receive His very life, body, blood, soul, and divinity. When we approach God with open hands and hearts, we are able to receive far more than we could ever imagine, and our lives are transformed by His presence. [04:49]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can prepare your heart to be more open to God’s gifts at Mass this week?


Day 4: The Power of Prayer for Priests and Vocations
The community is called to pray not only for their own needs but also for their priests, seminarians, and for more vocations to the priesthood. Prayer sustains those who serve and invites God to raise up new leaders for His Church. By remembering priests and future priests in prayer, the Church participates in God’s ongoing work and supports those who have answered His call. [05:46]

Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Reflection: Take a moment today to pray specifically for a priest, seminarian, or someone discerning a vocation—how might you encourage or support them this week?


Day 5: Growing Through Patience and Community Support
Growth and transformation are lifelong processes, marked by mistakes, learning, and the support of a patient community. Just as new priests and seasoned priests alike rely on the prayers and patience of their people, so too does every member of the Church need encouragement and understanding as they journey in faith. By extending patience and support to one another, the community becomes a place where all can grow in Christ. [01:24]

Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Reflection: Who in your community could use a little extra patience or encouragement from you today, and how can you offer it to them?

Quotes

Because, as a new, really anything, but especially a new priest, I'm so, so, so, so excited to be here. But I'm also going to make a lot of mistakes. So, maybe I'll do the wrong thing, forget something, make somebody angry on accident, make somebody angry on purpose. But then, you know, eventually, I'll grow and develop as people do and learn from those mistakes. [00:01:24] (00:00:30 seconds) Edit Clip

And actually, I'm reminded of something that Pope Leo said when he did his first Mass at St. John Lateran, the Papal Basilica. Leo XIV, the new one. He said this line, and it cut me very much to my core when he said it. He said, I offer you the little that I have and am. [00:02:14] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip

But here's the good news. Because even though, in my humanity, what I have to offer you is a lot of, and all that I have to offer you is a lot of frailty and weakness in myself. So, how can I offer you? How can you get that? So, at every Mass, Jesus Christ also offers us everything that He is. [00:03:15] (00:00:24 seconds) Edit Clip

And what a great gift that is that every weekend we get to come and Christ offers everything that He is to us. And what a great gift it is for us to not only see that offering and witness that offering on the altar, but then also to receive that offering in the Eucharist in His precious body and blood. [00:03:53] (00:00:21 seconds) Edit Clip

So, I left mine out there for a few reasons. One, I printed way too many. Two, as a reminder for all of you to pray for me as I enter into this new role in this assignment. Three, to pray for all priests of our diocese, to pray for Father Browning and all priests that you may know or priests, again, priests of our diocese. And then, lastly, to pray for more vocations, pray for our seminarians, especially Seminarian Zach, that more men will answer the call to the priesthood. [00:05:11] (00:00:32 seconds) Edit Clip

And I hope maybe the disparity and dichotomy isn't too jarring between 12 years, an experienced priest, and 16 days, a very inexperienced priest. Maybe by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that gap will shorten. But just as a further reminder, just please pray for us and pray for me as I enter into this assignment. Thank you. [00:06:40] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip