Anchored In The Lord
Religion & Spirituality
About
Weekly homilies of Father David Neuschwander
Episodes
- How Well Do You Know Jesus?
This homily for May explores Mary's role in drawing people closer to Jesus Christ. It suggests that growing in faith involves developing a personal friendship with Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and the Rosary, with Mary's guidance.
- What If
3rd Sunday of Easter On the road to Emmaus, two disciples walk beside Jesus without even realizing it—until they urge the "stranger" to stay, and in the breaking of the bread their eyes are opened. How often does the same thing happen in o…
- Burial Cloths
Easter Sunday This Easter, step into the tomb with Peter and John and notice the surprising detail the Gospel of John refuses to rush past: the burial cloths. Why are they mentioned twice? Because they point to something real—no theft, no…
- Entering into the Mass | 4th Sunday of Lent | 3/15/2026
Entering into the Mass, Part 3 – 4th Sunday of Lent (03/15/26) In Part 3 of this Lenten homily series, we reflect on how to enter more intentionally into the Mass. This week focuses on the Liturgy of the Word and the beginning of the Litur…
- Entering into the Mass | Second Sunday of Lent | Father David Neuschwander
2nd Sunday of Lent (03/01/26) – Entering into the Mass, Part 1 Have you ever thought, "Mass is boring?" Many of us have felt that way at times. But the reality is that the Holy Mass is anything but boring. Often the challenge is that we ha…
- Turn Away From Sin, Follow Jesus, Go Fishing | 3rd Sunday in OT | Jan 25, 2026
Turn Away From Sin, Follow Jesus, Go Fishing In this episode of Anchored in the Lord, we reflect on the Gospel for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 25, 2026) and Jesus' first public words of ministry: "Repent, for the kingdom of he…
- Following the Star - I saw the Sign
This Epiphany homily reflects on the journey of the Three Wise Men, who were led by a simple but powerful sign—a star—to the newborn Christ. Though the sign was visible to all, only a few chose to follow it. Ancient prophecies foretold the…
- Feast of the Holy Family
Feast of the Holy Family – Holy and Ordinary (December 28, 2025) On the Feast of the Holy Family, we reflect on a powerful truth: holiness is found not in extraordinary places, but in ordinary family life. Jesus chose to grow within a real…
- O Little Town of Bethlehem | Christmas 2025
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- Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran | Nov 11, 2025
Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran — The Last Rites (Summary) This weekend in our series Arise: On Death and Dying , we reflect on one of the most consoling and misunderstood gifts of the Church at the end of life: the Last Rites.…
- Daily Consistent Prayer. | 29th Sunday in OT | Oct 19, 2025
Father David's Homily this week focuses on daily consistent prayer without getting weird! Our readings for October 19, 2025 (the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time) focus on perseverance in prayer and faith. Key themes include: God will grant ju…
- Put On Your Nikes – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Put On Your Nikes – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Oct. 12, 2025) This week's homily invites us to look at two powerful moments of healing — Naaman the leper in the Old Testament and the ten lepers who call out to Jesus in the Gospel. Both…
- What Do I Spend My Time Thinking About?
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 21, 2025) — What Do I Spend My Time Thinking About? This weekend, we're asked to pause and pay attention to our own thoughts: What do I actually spend the most time focusing on each day? Is it worries ab…
- Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: How Should Christians Respond?
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross — How Should Christians Respond? 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 14, 2025) This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Cross, once a sign of suffering and deat…
- Catholic Services Appeal | 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time | 08/17/25
Catholic Services Appeal Weekend This weekend we begin our Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) — the annual appeal that sustains our Diocese in Northern Wisconsin. St. Joseph Parish Goal: $65,127 St. Ann Parish Goal: $15,973 (We met our goals l…
- Retirement: for Me or For God?
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 08/03/25 Retirement: For Me or For God? In today's Gospel, Jesus tells of a wealthy man who stored up riches for himself, only to be called a fool by God—not for working hard, but for forgetting eternity. He…
- Wanting to Want "All"
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (07/13/25) Wanting to Want "All" In this episode, we reflect on Jesus' call to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind—a total, undivided love. We ask the honest question: Do I really love God wit…
- True Freedom | 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time | 07/06/25
This week, we reflect on the meaning of freedom—not just as Americans celebrating Independence Day, but as Christians sent into the world. True freedom isn't about doing whatever we want; it's the gift of choosing love, sacrifice, and God'…
- Pray for Us
Solemnity of Saints Peters and Paul We are not on this journey of faith alone. We turn to each other so naturally when we need help, especially to our friends and family. The saints are our friends in heaven, our family in heaven; they are…
- Great Things!
Pentecost Sunday God is doing great things here in our family of parishes! More people are coming to Church; more young couples are attending Mass; more kids are being baptized; more families are joining the Church; more people are becomin…
- Ascending
Ascension Sunday We are called to follow where Christ our Savior went first. We, like Jesus, are called to be light enough to ascend to the Father: some things weigh us down, and some things raise us up. Do you ever feel heavy? Do you ever…
- "Thank You, God"
6th Sunday of Easter On this Memorial Day Weekend, we give thanks to God for the lives we are able to live in our country as we remember those who have died while serving in our Armed Forces, protecting us and upholding the rights and libe…
- Habemus Papam-We Have a Pope!
4th Sunday of Easter Just a few days ago, on Thursday, May 8th, something happened that I never thought I would see in my lifetime: Habemus Papam! We have a Pope! …And he's American! Robert Francis Prevost is a native of Chicago; an August…
- Roll Away the Stone
Easter Sunday "Roll away the stone. See the glory of God. Roll away the stone." What stones are still blocking the tomb of your heart? This Easter, God wants to roll those stones away. Christ doesn't roll it away to shame us—He rolls it aw…
- Looking Ahead
5th Sunday of Lent "Then Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.'" "Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!" "forgetting what lies beh…
- How Awake Are We?
2nd Sunday of Lent In our Gospel today, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain, and He is transfigured before them, they get a glimpse of the dazzling bright white glory of Jesus' divinity, a foretaste of heaven and of who we are…
- How Do I Consume Media?
1st Sunday of Lent On this Safe Haven Sunday, we are asked to to, first and foremost, make the home a safe haven for our kids by taking practical steps to help our kids engage technology in holy and virtuous ways and, inasmuch as possible,…
- Missionary Disciple
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus calls us to be transformed, to be renewed in mind and action, to look and act differently than others normally do: this theme runs through all of our readings. Yes, we are called to be disciples of Jesus,…
- The Willing Ones
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time What does our world need? Whom does God seek? Not the "perfect" or the "sinless", but the willing. No matter how unworthy we are, He calls us, and when we willingly say "yes," He cleanses us, and He strengthens…
- Baptized: Children of the Father
Baptism of the Lord When we are baptized in the waters, we are adopted into God's family and actually become, in Jesus, children of the Father. Baptism happens once and is the doorway to the other sacraments. Receiving the Eucharist (which…
- Eucharistic Prayer
Epiphany How do I come to Mass?
- The Little Drummer Boy
Merry Christmas! Come, they told me — pa rum pum pum pum A newborn King to see — pa rum pum pum pum Our finest gifts we bring — pa rum pum pum pum To lay before the King — pa rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum. So to honor Hi…
- Part 3/4: Rescued with Joy
3rd Sunday of Advent We were created by God for the kingdom of eternal life with him; by our own free choices to turn away from God and 'go at it on our own' we've been captured by the kingdom of sin, death, darkness and Satan. Jesus becom…
- A Peace This World Cannot Give
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 3 Levels of the Heart God wants to give us peace at the deepest level, a peace which endures all things.
- Part 1/4: Created in Hope
1st Sunday of Advent During this Advent season we will be doing a 4-part homily series as we Journey to the Manger together to welcome the Christ-child at Christmas. Our story starts with God's incredible creation - of the universe, and of…
- Advent: Journey to the Manger
Solemnity of Christ the King Together, during this Advent season, all 5 of our parishes (along with Christians throughout the world) prepare to welcome Jesus into our hearts and homes in new and deeper ways, and as we are practicing hospit…
- Hudson: Post-Election
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time I want to talk about 2 things today: How do we as Catholics respond to an election? What will actually change our country for the better? This weekend I preached in my hometown of Hudson, Wisconsin, at the pari…
- "God, what do You want me to do for You?"
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus asks Bartimaeus today, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus's request is granted, he receives his sight, and he follows Jesus on the way. Being a disciple of Jesus is being in a relationship wi…
- The Typewriter
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Life in a fallen world brings us all plenty of suffering, and our readings today take up that theme of suffering. Our sufferings - wether mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, or some combination thereof - ha…
- Upside Down, Right Side Up
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time The famous architect Antoni Gaudi designed the incredible basilica of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, which has been under construction for 128 years. A genius of architecture, he built a model of the chur…
- Whose Side Are You On?
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time The people in our first reading today, the Israelites, are at a decision point — they need to decide whom they will follow. This ancient Biblical situation is wildly applicable for us today. November 5th is the…
- Prayerful Generosity-CSA
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time This weekend is the kickoff for our annual diocesan Catholic Services Appeal (CSA). The CSA provides incredible opportunities to spread the faith of Jesus Christ in northwestern Wisconsin - for our seminarians,…
- Remember & Give Thanks
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time God works so powerfully in and around us at different times in our lives...but like the Israelites in our first reading, it's so easy to forget the good things God has done in our lives. When we remember what G…
- The Comfort Crisis
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time We mistakenly think that comfort will lead to happiness…but the human experience proves that those who do NOT regularly push themselves outside their comfort zones experience a slow but sure atrophy of their sp…
- Third Circle Catholicism
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time A question to ask ourselves today: "Am I living for myself, or am I living for God?" And the answer for most of us is probably, "A little bit of both...depending on when you catch me during the day." In our Bis…
- Stop Complainin', Start Proclaimin'!
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time I head a lot of complaining and blaming in this day and age. Jesus had a lot that he could have complained about in his time...a lot...but we don't hear Him complain once in the Gospels about any of the things…
- Making Triangles
Holy Trinity Each time we make the sign of the cross we are proclaiming that our God is a Trinity - God IS a relationship, so united that the Three are actually One, and yet the One remains Three. And we, caught up in this relationship of…
- The Holy Spirit Prayer
Pentecost The Holy Spirit comes on this Pentecost day to strengthen us in 3 ways: In our relationship with Jesus Christ In defending the faith In spreading the faith Every day this week, pray, "Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit. Come, H…
- Remain in My Love
6th Sunday of Easter "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you." "In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he has loved us." "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love."
- Am I a Good Shepherd?
4th Sunday of Easter Two thoughts for you this Sunday...