"Nunc Coepi: Begin Again" | 6th Sunday of Easter (Fr. Mike's Homily)  

Father Mike…..thank you so very much for this talk today. I am 75 yrs.old and at this age, the losses mount day by day. Health, strength, my own sufferings and the sufferings of loved ones. Today my heart was heavy with all of this and your words brought me so much comfort. And not only comfort. Reminded me that each day I can begin again, to love and to strive after God and that I only have so much time left to unite myself to Him in this life so that I am ready to be one with Him in the next. God bless you. 🙏

“Nunc Coepi” Now I begin again 🙏🫂

Thank you Father Mike, i so needed this today, i'm so defeated

Thank you Father, you made me cry today. I was always energetic and spent my life helping people. But then I got a chronic illness and couldn't be energetic anymore. The good side is that I've been able to spend years studying the Lord everyday when I'm stuck in bed. I've been caring for my Mom for seven years and it keeps getting harder. But, my capacity for love has only increased. I talk to the Lord all the time and tell him I love him all the time. I am so glad to hear that loving is the most important because I can still do that.💖💖💖

At 76 yrs. Old just list my twin brother last week, one realize that your next so whatever comes my way embrace it and realize ask God to give me the grace to make it through my day and be grateful. ❤

I am 81 and I am finding it hard to accept that no one really needs me anymore. I have given my life to the Lord and long to see Him. The world feels so very much changed and I feel loss in so many ways. Living alone is harder now, even though I keep myself busy. I am encouraged by your words and yes, I still have my heart. Thank you. I love Jesus. I love the Father. I love the Spirit and I can try to love my broken self. I can try to love all people. Amen.

Start each day with a prayer, asking Him for guidance to do His will. God needs us to help shower His love on all people. As Christians, we are His hands & feet on earth. "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love." St. Mother Theresa

I needed to hear this - the Lord has answered a prayer through this homily. Thank you! I’m 70 years old and came back to the Church in 2016 after being “in exile” for over 30 years. I still think I can do all the things I did when I was younger, but I’m slowly learning that this isn’t possible. I think I can outrun my arthritis, conquer my tiredness, do all things I used to do. I think I can still be the Youth Minister I used to be, with the same energy I had 40 years ago. I need to face the fact that it’s time for me to slow down and accept where I am in my life - that’s what the Lord is asking me to do. I need to “begin again,” but in a new way. Oh, boy, I needed this today (as tears are rolling down my face)! Pax Vobiscum, Father. I thank Jesus for your fiat. ❤️‍🔥🙏🏻🕊

My mom is 95. We live in Trinidad and she's strong

Thank you Father Mike for all your beautiful words. I go to Mass but still need to hear your Homilies as they always add to God’s message. Feeling grateful as I Begin Again today. Much Love!

Today I returned to Mass and look forward to doing so every week! Thank you Father Mike, you’re bringing the word to the world :)

Thank you Lord God for the life of Fr. Mike. I am a 41 year old mom failing in life insurance with an autistic son. I feel I have no real prospects in life. Thank you Fr. Mike for bringing God's message of hope.

Much needed homily! Thank you father Mike

Father Mike Thankk you for this I needed to hear this🙏🏽

Father Mike, you are one of my most favorite people in this world! I thank God each day for putting you here to explain things to us. You have helped me grow in my faith so much!

Allow me to tell my story. I feel inspired by your beautiful homily, Fr. Mike, thank you! 3 days before my retirement i dreamed that i was climbing a steep mountain. I almost made it, but a few feet before i reached the tip of the berg i lost my strength. Heartbroken. As i was contemplating to go down the hill i saw a hand reaching out to me. I reached out and was abruptly pulled up, and at that moment I woke up. ACH! And there i was telling my dream to my colleagues who had gathered to say goodbye to me. I said that the meaning of my dream was "the best is yet to come". I went to church the next morning to give thanks. There i found a postcard with the saying "The best is yet to come". But "nothing comes from nothing", so, "nunc coepi, begin again". (Oh yes, i will dare if God allows it.)

I needed to hear this today. Thank you.

Thank you, Father. This is exactly what I needed to hear today.

This reminds me of a saying I used when I was a professor. It’s often attributed to Schopenhauer but it’s uncertain “Thus the challenge is not to see that which no one has ever seen, but to look differently at that which everyone sees”

45 years old here, and I absolutely refuse to believe or accept that my best days of innovation or physical health are behind me.

I love this message. It’s what I needed to hear! Thank you, Father Mike 🙏✝️

Fr. Mike . Your sermon was extraordinary! My husband passed a little over a year ago. The grief has been unbearable many times. I facilitate a bereavement group in my parish. I am going to use what you said ‘Begin Again’ for what I believe will motivate the group to begin a new chapter. I learned that finding purpose after loss is critical to healing and beginning again. And, yes giving love to others is so important at this stage of life when you are declining and you find yourself alone for the first time after decades of marriage. ‘Begin Again.’ Thank you for this very inspiring message of hope and love. God bless you!

These words have deeply moved and resonated with me. In God's divine and wise plan, I am currently facing a challenging time with my health. However, I have learned a great deal and have united my pain with the suffering of Jesus on the Cross. This realization has not come easily. Initially, I felt upset with God for allowing this situation to occur. But, with the help and love of Jesus and our Holy Mother, I have come to understand. Father Mike's homilies during Lent provided tremendous assistance, as did reading the book "He Leadeth Me" by Father Walter Ciszek. I now have faith and hope in the love of Jesus our Savior and our Holy Father. Yesterday, I went to confession, as I felt that I was not needed if I could not walk and contribute to my community. However, my priest reassured me, saying, "God wants us to be healthy. Pray for courage." If you are also facing a challenging time with your health, I encourage you to pray for courage. In Jesus' love and suffering, we will find the strength and love that is part of God's perfect plan for salvation.

Amen. Jesus please help me to love well. To be present. To be like you and to love like you do🙏 Thank you and God bless you Fr. Mike.

This was such a timely message again Father Mike. Just now I was on the beach journaling and asking God what’s next dealing with a painful ending to divorce and ministry. This video came up and can’t be more precise and prophetic as we say in the Pentecostal circles ;) ❤

Hey Fr. Mike! You’re pretty darn good at your job. Holy smokes, as I approach 60 in 4 days, did I ever need that word. I do have so much to be grateful, but sometimes a prop up is required. 🙏🏻

Praise God for this Homily! I am watching this while I'm on the bus and my mind is blown. I wanna shout a loud praise from the good news of this message. Thank you Fr. Mike for allowing God to speak through you.

Jesus loves you and is with you

Fr Mike you were certainly in persona Christe today. I am 75 years old and trying my best to deal with the decline of old age that you spoke about. You gave me the advice I needed today. Thank you very much much

Thank you Father Mike! This was a great homily! Blessings your way always!

Thank you father my first time listening to mass on my phone and it was amazing made me cry in a good way and made me realize I need to start a new and keep loving like Jesus, God bless you 🙏❤️

Very helpful! ❤

You have to reprioritize and it must be done throughout life. It is called being resilient.

Wonderful insight. Appreciated the examples so much. Brought things home. TY and blessings, Father.

Thank you, Fr. Mike, for reminding me my purpose and finding new way of "winning." May God protect you and all priests & religious. ❤

Amen Amen I say 🙏 Thank you from Arizona- 64 years young, i grew up going to our Newman Center on 13th East SLC UT. As i don't have a parish close to me, i have adopted your parish. My heart is full and I will begin again each day. Bless you and all who listen and participate. Thank you

Thank you, Father Mike. Your homilies are always so helpful. May God bless you 🙏

Thank you, Father. ❤🙏

Father Mike, I really appreciated this message today. 3 1/2 years ago, I lost my wife of 32 years. She was 51. I was 53, and I really feel the heav yweight of this decline and the loss of drive that came with. The loss of my love. This message was so helpful today.

I feel like the man on the airplane,I’m elderly,memories are precious, live every moment as tho it were your last,life smacks you in the face , suddenly illness comes to you keeps one unable to live the lifestyle you want to be in and then ,it becomes your life either caretaker,or patient ,one gives it all to God,it’s all good…….happy to be together and have some laughs……Thank you Father Mike, we love you and your ministry……

Thank you I am so glad to have come in contact with your words you are a great speaker love you

Another masterpiece, Father Mike

Thanks you for your words. At 79 my transition is to fully father and grandfather. Thanks for your message. God bless you and your work.

I'm in IT 😂 Thanks Fr. Mike. Love your homilies

I love you very much!❤❤❤.. You do not have to say anything, love is not a debt! ☀️

Liked you IT analogy lmao. God bless you father🙏🏼

thankyou for the youth fact it will be in my mind for a while; may the Lord bless all your graduates and keep them on the narrow road Jesus taught, good sermon great cara example

Thank you for this most excellent homily! Yet another one "out of the ball park"! I have had to start over so many times in my life , that "begin again" is the not exception, but the rule. Your words are comforting since they are a reminder that there are more restarts headed my way, but I will not be alone in facing them. Thank you!

🙏🏼

When asked on a televised interview in all of history whom he would want to have dinner with. He answered “The Apostles”! I will never forget this. I was blown away in awe and gratitude.

just..... wow!

I thank God every day for his creations. I am thankful for you too. I appreciate these videos. It’s not by chance I am seeing these. ❤🙏🏻 Edit: your words about business are spot on.

Thank you Father Mike. I believe your homily was God’s message that I have been waiting to hear all week.

Thank you & we should be praying for your good health & long life!

Thank you, Fr. Mike and Ascension Team!

Thank you for your obedience to Christ’s will that you demonstrate with these homilies Fr. Mike. From the studio to the mass these Sundays with Ascension have brought not only me but my family so much hope and healing. We’re not good Catholics but we love to try to be especially now that we can see your heart is on the line for us every day ❤

Beautiful as always love like Jesus

Thank you for your wonderful words of wisdom today. Especially to those of us who are retired, over 70 and feel like everything is behind us. I look back at my life as in distinct chapters or “passages.” Sometimes I refer to my past as in another lifetime, so I will really try to remember those words of wisdom from the 17 year old who said that she could still love. And in the end we are judged by how well we loved. I will wake up tomorrow and begin again. Thank you Fr Mike. One day I truly believe you will be canonized a saint for the many lives you’ve touched and changed. And also for your selfless giving and because in the end you know how to love, through your meaningful homilies, through Bible in a Year, through Catechism in a Year, through your example to young college students plus through the endless seminars and conferences you are speaking at. I never tire of hearing you speak and will keep you in my prayers that you continue to grow and share your wisdom and love- especially to your virtual “front pew” parish that you e inherited since Covid. 🙏❤️🙏

"Life Begins at Forty" by John Lennon is a fabulous song, for anyone feeling their yrs (or beyond) 😅 Father, maybe the silver lining to us considering "old" as outside of our actual statistically calculated average is... Youth IS a state of mind. Age really might just be a number!! As i learn more abt SW (⚔️), fending off a fear of age seems to start with STAYING kiddo-like in iur head and hearts. ...Also, Lennon wrote that song for Ringo, i think. 😊 U Rule!!!!

What a blessing this was

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Thank you, Father Mike - what a great message/lesson! I am however, in trouble with rhe family. When you spoke of the question - "who would you most like to have dinner with? - I said "Jesus, Mother Mary, andd the Apostles" - oops! 😆

Wow... thank you .. your homily /interpretations is incredibly tangible and is helping to find the path to Jesus's heart +++

Reading the comments and being a seventy plus aged person shows how your homily impacted us the aged. But our entire life is a life of beginning again. Consider the changes we go through from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood to middle adulthood to the stages of old age and of course the stage of death. All along the way we nunc coepi. Admittedly I went through these changes without too much thought and so I appreciate Fr. Mike's Jesus centered message. It is only being present to Jesus as a friend and loving Him and following His commandments that our life has relevance. St. Carlos Acutis said, 'Jesus is my best friend and the Eucharist is my highway to heaven.' He died at fifteen years of age in 2005? (Numbers may be off slightly). Gotta keep climbing with Jesus and to Jesus.

16:15 "I still have my heart and with that I can always love." Great homily, Fr. Mike! In terms of beginning again, may I suggest that beginning again as a Church lies in Deification? (Sharing in the divine life.) Have you been listening to the new podcast, "Becoming God"? God bless you! ❤✝

Not gonna lie. This homily broke my heart a little, reminding me that though in my 40's my peak is over. I have now 40-something years ahead of me, being reminded daily I can no longer accomplish anything, and that I failed in my youth. It's a sad reminder about pride, a reminder that this life isn't for me anyway but for God, and all that, but none of the prospects invigorate or inspire me to productivity, only to resigning myself to defeat. Not sure how I'm going to get myself out of this downward feeling, and this homily put me back into it. But I guess it's just God talking to me, and that I should trust Him and give it all up. I hope my life ends soon, so that I don't have too many years of this left.

This is so uncanny. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about for the past few days, and you just drove it home for me. Thank you!

TURN TO JESUS NOW! AND REPENT TO BE SAVED

Greetings Father Mike, Key Thoughts :- -> Homily Insights reflect with "Lord Jesus Christ's Grace strengthens One's Inner Soul with a New Beginning in every sense in all aspects of Our Life." -> Good Homily Father. Thanks. With regards, Ranjith Joseph (R.J)

Father, for someone who loves superheroes, how do you encourage others? would it be bad to try light a fire of motivation and encouragement in hearts? How should I be careful? Or do we leave it to God to encourage us?

If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

Ò my gosh,, l enjoy Father Mike's messages so much but sometimes he talks so fast l can't understand him! Regarding getting older (l just turned 65)!, I'm finding it almost paralyzing to think about only having 20 years of life left. One thing is that it motivates me to quit procrastinating and get rid of things I've been hanging on to that ĺ thought l might do/use again. Then on the other hand, it's motivating to do something I've never done before like writing a book.. or at least mÿ eulogy.

Thank you for your wonderful homily , as usual we get a lot out of it . Please could you speak just a bit slower . Your message is so powerful and gets glossed over by the speed . Thank you

🕍🛐💝🌹💞🙏🙏🙏😇🕯️🕊️

ACTUALLY YOU R OLDER THAN U ARE AS YOU WERE PRETTY WELL DEVELOPED THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE YOU WERE ACTALLY BORN !! IN FACT EVERYONE SHOULD CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAY 2 MONTHS EARLIER AS WE ALL ON EARTH BEING CARRIED AROUND BY OUR MOM EARLIER THAN OUR BIRTH 😊

Nunc coepi is supposed to be drawn from Psalm 77:10, Vulgate. Go to the Vulgate and translate each word of Psalm 77:10 using an independent translation tool. To begin...at Genesis and then to begin again at Matthew...shows us an entirely different deity than what was at the first beginning. El was bull headed, Yah (Psalms 77:11, Hebrew) was crescent moon symbolizing bull horns headed, Baal was El with wings after his death bull headed, and Satan is bull headed. You know who isn't bull headed? Christ. Christ doesn't have pendulant breasts or wings either. He points to His Father in Heaven. The law of love is not the law of man (i.e. Mosses), the OT law is not the New T law. The law Christ speaks of is the law that existed before hard hearts marched in and wrote the OT laws.

Please, someone explain Fr Mike that "nunc coepi" is not pronounced "nunc cepi" but "nunc ko-epi!" Anyway... As a majored in neuroscience, I feel the duty to say something on regard of "decline for making discoveries:" frontal lobes both serve teaching and reasearch; furthermore, even AI can make discoveries. There is not such a point where you cannot apply your cognitive strategies to find new solutions anymore, unless you get dementia. If such a study truly exists, I doubt it is reliable. Obtaining a Nobel Prize is once in a lifetime, but many important researches don't get it. On the other hand, professors keep teaching their entire life, so it gets better along time. Even if there was a decline of discoveries, that does not mean brain-cognitive decline, since motivational factors may be implied (people may be less willing to make discoveries as they get older, but more motivated to teach). What I'm saying is that the measures used for the comparison are not well-matched and the conclusions may confound the effects with the causes. A young brain - of children expecially - has more neural plasticity thus it learns more easily, but older people get better learning strategies which are what truly matters. Assuming the existence of a brain limit to learning whatever skills can create self-fullfilling profecies: people don't put efforts in what they do, thinking they can't get anything out of it, and then they truly do not learn. I appreciate Fr Mike's interest for psychology and I think his theology is excellent, but I suggest him to focus more on his own art. And wish him all the possible discoveries!

It's little unfair to use the Nobel prize to illustrate the principle that groundbreaking is done by the young when it can't be awarded posthumously. There are people who would have been awarded at least part of the prize but died before the committee decided it was time to recognize those results.

I’m right there with Kathleen… I am 77 and I feel like I’ve had it. I also recently fell. I also have rheumatoid arthritis and I also have LEMS and I have pushed forward all my life. Have a great family. But at this point, I’m having more trouble and I really appreciated this homily. I really really did and I know that I can do whatever I can do as long as the Lord wills it. … and I will have a upbeat attitude. Bloom where I am planted. Just wish I had a little more fertilizer! Ha ha.

Fr. Mike, your homily was an answer to a prayer. 🙏🏻thank God. I’ve been struggling with this.

With tears in my eyes, I say you are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life!!! Thank you Father for helping me grow spiritually and love like Jesus!!! It’s not always easy but nunc cepi!

Thank you, Fr Mike! God bless you.

Thank you Father Mike.

Thanks fr. Mike!

Thanks!

What is the name of the young lady that Father mentioned?