”YOU DID IT TO ME”

During the Advent Season, which to me is very special time of year….At Holy Mass, the readings we hear are always from the Prophet Isaiah……Before we go into what Isaiah had to say today….Let’s look at briefly what a prophet is because Isaiah was consider one of the greatest of the Old Testament Prophets - I believe there are some misconceptions surrounding what exactly a prophet is…A prophet is simply someone who speaks the Truth…..Easy enough right? - Wrong!…….Each and every baptized Catholic is called to be a prophet in this world…Our "job" is to - Know the Truth….Speak the Truth….Live the Truth…And now for the tough one - Suffer for the Truth…..How do we do that because clearly when we “look around” that is not happening the way it should be - Let’s be honest here….We can only live this way by and through God’s grace….This is a subject I hammer home constantly in these reflections - Why?…Because our modern world “thinks” it can self manufacture grace - Wrong!….Grace is a gift from God…Grace elevates our flawed human nature - We all need it and without it we stumble and fall….With that said, now let’s look at what Isaiah had to say today……………”On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see”……..Is Isaiah talking about when Jesus returns or is he talking about now?……Clearly, when Christ returns in his glory, we all will “see” but when that happens - Its too late…..We need to “see” and “hear” NOW….......We need to greet Christ in his return properly.....…How do we do that?…..Before we all make plans on how we are going to “change”….....We first need to encounter the Lord - I mean really encounter him….How do we do that?…..Let’s explore one way that can happen……In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells us something VERY important - This is on “the final exam”, so pay attention here…..Jesus tells us….”What you do to the least of these - You do to ME!”….....Notice the word ME…..When we help the poor - Not by writing a check - That is too easy - I am talking about helping them with our own two hands - Getting to know them as people…......When we do that, even if we are not practicing Catholics living in the state of grace - Something happens!…......We encounter the living God……And that encounter “opens a door” to Sacramental living……Mother Teresa would teach her sisters….”The entire Gospel can be summarized and taught in five words….”YOU DID IT TO ME”……If during this Advent Season we extend “a hand” to the helpless - Something will happen inside of you….A “door” will open…A “light” will “go on”…..That is the first step….And all good things start with one forthright step forward

“Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.”

Jesus tells us in Scripture……”The poor you will always have with you”…….Why did Christ focus in on this statement?…..Well? - Have you ever thought that “if” circumstances were even slightly different in your life - You could have easily been no different than those people we see on streets today…Would if your parents died when you were young?…….Would if you had an accident that affected your mind or body?……Would if a horrific event was to happen in America: a war, a plague, a natural disaster? (Read the news - this happens all the time around the world)….If those events were to happen - Where would you be today?….We have to understand, which most don’t…That everything we have is a gift - And all gifts given to us are to be used…Also, if we as Catholics claim to love God - We MUST love our neighbor…And to do that, we must "see" God in our neighbor……This requires a clean heart to “see” in this way……………Over the six years that I would travel to India during the Advent Season, “word got out” that this “Crazy American” (That Crazy American was me - If you have not figured that out already) was traveling to Kolkata each December and as a result strangers would reach out to me…Some would give me money, which I gave to Mother Teresa’s sisters…And some, believe it or not, would ask if they could travel along with me - I of course agreed and took them along…One year this very rich woman reached out to me…Her name was Jude....Jude was in her mid-thirties, and her mother just died….She “somehow” heard about me and asked if she could come along…Jude was not exactly the kind of person one would think would be interested in such a trip….She was a very “corporate person”…......She made tons of money in the Insurance Business…..And was not even a practicing Catholic…But because of the death of her mother, she felt she needed to “do something”….....So she came along with me to Kolkata to serve the poor…..I will be honest, when I first met Jude, I had my doubts she was going to be able to “cut it” in one of the poorest cities in India…..But after a few days of “adjusting”, Jude fit right in……….After two weeks serving the poor, Jude flew home back to New York City, a few days earlier then I did…I remember the big smile on her face the day she left for the airport……Jude did not have that same smile the day we arrived in Kolkata - She was still mourning the loss of her mother…..Now for the question to all the readers of this reflection - What caused this change in Jude?…It clearly was not the “luxury hotel” Jude stayed in during her stay in Kolkata - What happened to her?…I will tell you what happened - Jude experienced, in a small way God, through her service of the poorest of the poor…....Remember these words I noted above in this reflection…….”YOU DID IT TO ME”……..God will never be outdone in generosity…....When we give God an “inch” - He gives us back a “yard”!

“And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.”

Today we hear from the great prophet Isaiah…He tells us that the Lord’s people will be “woken up”…..But how?…What will spark this awakening?…..As we say in New Jersey - “There are many ways to skin a cat”…..We need to have an authentic encounter with the Lord….Until that happens - God is simply just a word and our religion will be reduced to mere habit…..The words of the Gospel must come alive for us - But how?……Serving the material poor is one of those ways…..Something “happens” to us when we extend a hand to those who can never repay us…..Its a powerful life changing encounter…..From this encounter, we just may realize that God is real - He is not just a word……..This is the key - We must come to understand that God is real - Why? - Because he is!…From that point, we grow confident…And from that confidence, we even will grow bold….All from that one simple encounter……”What you do to the least, you do to me” - Jesus was not kidding when he said that - Just as Christ is fully present in the Blessed Sacrament - He is present in the material poor…......We encounter the living God when we encounter the poor……………….”YOU DID IT TO ME”…………..JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Build your life upon God - And it will last - No need to “hit the cement” to understand that gravity is a reality

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew a line is “drawn in the sand”….Jesus tells us very clearly (notice the word clearly) that it is not enough to just say we believe in God - We must act upon that belief….And if we do and build a life upon Christ, that life will last and bear fruit…..“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined”……..For those who read this reflection and have “been around the block” - Look around objectively for a moment if you can - It should be very clear that this statement made by Christ proves itself to be true…….There is an old saying in New Jersey…….”Every dog has his day”……Again - So true……When we build our life on the “shifting sands” of this world, a day will come, usually when we least expect it too, when “our world” comes crashing down……One does not have to be a religious person to have seen this play out time and time again…With family…With friends….With neighbors…As well as with those in the mainstream media…….God’s way works!…..God gives us the Natural Law and the teachings of the one Church he founded, the Catholic Church to help us, not to make us miserable - Sadly, the world for 2000 years does not believe that statement to this very day....…And keeps building upon “sand”, producing the same results each and every time…..In the first reading from Mass today taken from the Book of Isaiah….We are told how God’s laws protect us - From who? - Primarily our self!…………….“A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you. ”Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor”….........We can ignore this reality all we want - But reality does not change because we say it does....…The Catholic Church has outlasted all its enemies: The Roman Empire, Napoleon and the French Revolution, Hitler and the Nazi Party and Stalin and the USSR….Just to name a few…..This is “the rock” Jesus references to build your life upon….A life built upon this rock lasts….Ignore this at your own peril….God plays the “long game”….And he always wins that game - Don’t you think its time to join the “winning team”!?!

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call him while he is near”

Why do Hollywood marriages fail?…..You would think that those who have “everything” would also have strong and lasting marriages - But as we all know that is not the case….Most, if not all Hollywood marriages fail - That is reality….All their money, their good looks, all the comfort that is enjoyed by these famous couples do not help them to stay married - Why do you think that is the case?….If anyone can stay married it should be them - Right?....Wrong!....Why is that? - Because all those “creature comforts” can not be utilized to build a lasting life upon - The mistake of many…..Marriage is a Sacrament, not because I said so, but because God said so…And marriages that are lived out sacramentally last…The statistics can not be debated!….Why is that?….Because we as human beings are all born flawed……We need God’s grace, each and everyone of us…And when we build a life upon that grace - It lasts…Its really that simple……Our world is not convinced….We “think” we are the exception to the rule or we “bury our head in the sand” and reality plays out right before our eyes over and over again…..Why is that? - The world likes the “idea” of God, but does know who God really is - Why would I say that? - Because when we get “below the surface” - The world has convinced itself that God is some kind of an ogre, who gave us “rules” to live by that will make us miserable…If you think that, you have been “tricked” by the “guy downstairs” - So tell “that guy” to “beat it”…..…..God came to give us life and give it abundantly!…..Building a life upon our shared Catholic faith is a life that not only lasts, but brings with it lasting and deep joy…..Such a life just does not “look” like the life the secular world convinces us we “need to have” in order to be happy….We have been brainwashed by Hollywood and the media….Its very ironic and I will leave you with this thought…Our world “takes advice” from people who in many cases “fail”in life…Hollywood, Sports figures, and CEOs…Many of these people have “all the toys” but destroy their families and children in the process…Society “listens to them” while ignoring the teachings of Christ given to us by the Catholic Church….The old lady in the last pew at daily Mass in any Catholic Church in America can tell you more about life then most Hollywood Directors and CEOs can…....Who are you going to listen too?…..Because who you listen to will determine a lot.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven”

Today St Matthew in his Gospel tells us that we must build our life upon God…..Here is the “deal”….....The Natural Law and the teachings of the Catholic Church have been proven to work....…Sorry, to all those who refuse to face facts - Just look at the things that last the test of time - That should tell any objective person everything they need to know - But sadly we are not objective….....Here is another fact - The laws of God apply to you, whether you acknowledge them or not….....Its like gravity…You can swear up and down that there is no such thing as gravity….....But what happens when you “jump off the roof of your house”?….......What happens is - You “hit the cement”…Exactly!…Build your life upon God - And it will last - No need to “hit the cement” to understand that gravity is a reality………..JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Everything we have to become the people we were born to be was given to us - Have the courage to make it happen!

Today the Universal Church commemorates the life of St Francis Xavier SJ…..He was a founding member of the Society of Jesus…..This man was force of nature!……Many probably do not know this - But the popular cartoon super hero series known as the “X-Men” was inspired by Francis Xavier’s life……As a young man he was a great athlete (He was a javelin thrower) and a scholar…He met St Ignatius Loyola at the University of Paris…..It was there that the Jesuit Order was formed…..Francis Xavier came from a a noble and wealthy family…......He had “all the gifts” and he gave up “the world” to be a solder for Christ…And a solder he certainly was!…Besides St Paul, no one probably covered more ground then him…He traveled to the Far East and established Catholic Communities in India, Ceylon, Malacca and Japan….He died near the coast of China in a simple hut…….The man was literally a force of nature!…So here is the question to ponder today….If Francis Xavier decided to “go into business” after college using all his gifts (He certainly had them!) do you think we would be talking about him today?….If he did make that decision (as most do), sure, he would have become very rich…He had “all the gifts”…….But then what?…..Not a soul would have remembered him….He would have become completely forgotten…Instead, Francis Xavier used his gifts to build the Kingdom of God….....And build he did!……So what about us?…….…..”But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”....Do you believe that? - If not - You should!

“Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there………Great crowds came to him”

God works in mysterious ways!…..In a million years when the young Francis Xavier went off to the University of Paris would he have imagined that he would become a great Catholic saint that would travel the world…..It all came down to one word - YES!…..What about us?……While we all have responsibilities…We have to provide for our families, raise our children, pay bills, etc…I get it!….But outside of all that - What do you live for?….What will be your legacy?…..Francis Xavier figured it out - How about us?....Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus was preaching to large crowds of people…..The people flocked to him in great numbers - Why do you think that was the case?…..Why? - Because the Truth is written on every human heart….And when someone presents the Truth to others, there is something magnetic about it….There is an old saying…..”Authenticity sells”….People can smell a phony from a mile away….And there was nothing phony about Jesus’ words nor was there nothing phony about Francis Xavier…....So here is the question - Why are we not like this our selves?….The answer - We are afraid!…….Fear does not come from God and fear keeps us from being the people we were born to be……..So “take off your mask!”……Freedom is inside of you…..And if you become who you were meant to be - You will set the world on fire!

“He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds……….They all ate and were satisfied”

What is a Catholic Saint?….To put it simply - A saint becomes the person God created them to be…..We ALL have God’s DNA surging through our veins but sadly most people “bury it”……We settle for second best….Saints do not take that “trade off”…......Never settle - Do not follow the crowd - Follow Christ will reckless abandon!…..Everything we have to become the people we were born to be was given to us - Have the courage to make it happen!……….JMJ

St Francis Xavier pray for us!

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

And then you will “see”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke about the importance of sight…What is it that makes us see?….How can two people look at the same thing and see something completely different?…….Jesus tells his friends that what they “see”, many people will never “see” - How can that be? - Let’s explore this idea but first what did Jesus say about this subject in the Gospel……”Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it”……..Hmmmmmmm!…….....The Truth is written on every human heart…Its up to us to either “see” by and through that Truth or bury it under “stuff”…….This is how we see…..Each of us is capable of “seeing” what Christ shows us ….It simply is up to us - To remove “the stuff” that blocks our vision……When we “see” through the “lens of God” and live our life through that “lens”, we avoid many of the “potholes” of life…..Our society today equates living a good life with money, raw intelligence and status - The reality is, while those material things can make us comfortable, they will not make us fulfilled - There are plenty of miserable rich people - Trust me - I work with tons of them….All the attributes that the world grounds its very existence upon and values can still lead a person into a “pothole” due to a lack of vision….Just because a person is smart, does not mean they will “see” properly, which in turn will guide their life choices…..Looking through the lens of God guides all our decisions and choices, leading one to a happy and complete life…....Who we marry, what we do with our time, how we spend our money…..All these choices make for a good life and they happen only because we “see” properly…....This is why forming our children in our shared Catholic faith is the most important thing we as parents can do for them…….A child could be gifted beyond all telling, but if they do not “see” the world through the “lens of God”, even if they are off the charts intelligent, there is a strong likelihood they will make many “dead-end decisions”….Think about it - What we value usually forms the kind of person we become…..This all comes down to what we “see”…And what we “see” determines who we are and eventually where we end up.

“For although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

I come from a simple people…Most of the people in my family did not go to college…I am the son of a barber, who was the son of an immigrant from Southern Italy, who worked in a factory……While many of the people in my family did not have great amounts of wealth nor did they have a profound education to boast about…What they did have served them well…They had faith - They had common sense - They built strong family bonds - They lived within their means….And because of all that - They thrived!……I like to called what I have seen in my family - “The art of living”….In America today, we have no idea how to live any more….We have lost the “art” of how to live well…..Again, I have seen people in my own family, who had a fraction of what many “worldly people” I work with have, yet, the members of my family had an infinitely better life…..The Reciniello’s had strong and lasting marriages…They were filled with authentic joy….And they died with dignity surrounded by loved ones…How can this be?…How can a person live a life with “next to nothing” have all those wonderful things that every person dreams about? - Yet - Many “gifted people” miss out on?….It all comes down to what we “see”……And what we "see" drives how we live and what we value…..A clean heart allows us to “see”…..Its really that simple…..So how can we create a clean heart within our self?….Again - Its easy….......We live a Sacramental life….Jesus gave us all everything we need to do this….First we are baptized…And then as adults we continue to “reconnect with God” by frequent Sacramental Confessions and feeding on the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass…....This is how we create a “clean heart” within our self - And this is how we “see”…..There is no “magic dust” or fancy formula to it…..….”The art of living” is not something we can buy - Its a lifestyle learned at the foot of the cross….I have seen this “art” lived out right before my eyes...…”Wipe away the dust” from your eyes…..So you can “see”

“Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants”

Today at Mass we are reminded as Catholics just how fortunate we are…..We have Christ fully present in the Blessed Sacrament….Jesus tells us in the Gospel today…..”Blessed are the eyes that "see" what you see”…..I am going to let the reader of this reflection in on a little secret…Until you KNOW deep within your soul that Jesus is fully present in the Blessed Sacrament, your faith life will not drive your everyday life….Reading the Bible and praying daily is a good thing....…Its another thing to KNOW that Jesus is fully present in a consecrated host by a Catholic Priest…And when we “feed” on Christ's flesh at Mass, when we are in the state of grace after a Sacramental Confession - This is how we not only will “see” the world differently but we are empowered through grace to live differently…I am telling you the secret here to the “art of living”!….So how do we acquire eyes to “see” Christ in a consecrated host?…..A good question!……Here is my advice….......As we say in New Jersey - My "2 cents"........Sit before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar of a Catholic Church - Search one out - You can find one if you try….…You do not have to be a practicing Catholic to do this…In fact, you do not even have to believe in God to do this…....The first thing you are going to notice when you walk into a Church with the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar is - There is a tangible peace felt in the air….....That is your first “sign” that you are in the right place….....Next thing you do - Say these words before the Blessed Sacrament and then say nothing else….”God - If you are really here and truly present in this piece of “bread” show me because I do not see you”….....Say that and nothing more…And then just sit in silence and listen to your heart for a few minutes…If you do that consistently….You will get your answer…And then you will “see”……………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

One of the greatest revelations of my life was this - God is God and I am not…Once you get that down…..The rest is not as hard as you think

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, Jesus encounters a Roman soldier who believes that he is God…Keep this in mind - This was unprecedented!…..Not to mention the soldier had extraordinary faith - But here is the point I want to bring out in this reflection - The soldier recognized Jesus’ authority as God - Amazing!…So here is the question for the day - Do we recognize that authority?…..Why is that so important?……Because heaven is God’s house - We all want to “get in that house” right?….If we do, we need to recognize Christ's authority……"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith”………No matter who you are…No matter how smart…No matter how physically strong…No matter how rich - We all die!….And when we do, we end up in one of two places - This is reality!…Now here is the part we conveniently “forget”…....We have NO AUTHORITY to determine which of the two places we end up in - God determines that…..Here is something else to consider - God is not impressed by what school you went too, where you work or how much money is in your bank account….He will ask us one thing - Did you recognize my authority by the way you lived out your life?…..To think otherwise as a Catholic is to not have a mature faith….Let’s take this discussion one step further….Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he gave authority to St Peter…..How do I know that? - Let’s look in the pages of Scripture……..”I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”….What does that mean?…..It means this - The Pope has authority - Like it or not - And WE do not!….In addition, based upon that statement from Christ, the one Church that he founded - The Catholic Church - Has authority as well……”Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” - What does that mean?…That means the Church determines “the rules” as to how or if we get into heaven…..Let me stop here because I KNOW I just “ruffled some feathers”….The Deposit of Faith does not change - As Catholics its our job to simply pass it on - We have no authority to change it……Now I “get it” - Modern man does not like to be told what to do - Sadly, even when what is told to mankind is in their best interest……Trust me - “I get it”….But as we say in New Jersey - “Get over it”!

“Come and save us, LORD our God; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

Many people know who Padre Pio is…..For those who don’t - He was an Italian Priest who lived in the 20th century who bore the wounds of Christ on his body….When people heard about how his hands would bleed when he presided over the Mass, crowds of people would come and sadly some would come for the wrong reasons…This caused trouble and some in the Church thought Padre Pio was a fake…..As a result, some within the Church wanted to investigate the wounds on Padre Pio’s body…..And while they did their investigation, he was not permitted to say Mass or hear confessions for his people - This hurt him deeply…And this went on for ten years!…Keep this in mind - Padre Pio did not do anything wrong - But - He accepted this order in deep humility....…For an Italian, that is a small miracle in and of itself! (I'm Italian and from New Jersey - Bear with me here!).........Why is this important?…..Because Padre Pio recognized the authority behind the order……And in time (God’s time), all those who doubted him were silenced!….And I am sure God used that time to make Padre Pio that much more holy….Why bring this story up?…I always think of this story when someone in the Church, someone with authority says something or does something that goes against the Deposit of the Faith…In time - God’s time - Their statements / actions will be corrected…Why? - How can I say that with such certainty?…Here is why…….”And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven”……..There is an old saying….."Man will have his hour but God will have his day”…….We as Catholics MUST understand that our Church does not belong to us - We are just members - It belongs to Christ himself……”His house - His rules” - Trying to fight against God is like trying to stop the ocean from crashing against the shore - Its impossible!.....Accept reality and accept God on his terms…This is how we find peace and this is how we will find eternal life as well

“For over all, the LORD's glory will be shelter and protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from storm and rain.”

Today at Mass we hear the words of a pagan soldier…His words are very famous - I know you are familiar with them and have heard them before……..”Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed”…This man understood who he truly was - I sinner!…He understood that he had no authority to save himself…That he had to rely solely upon the mercy of God….This man “got it” - He figured it out!…..How about us?….Do we think somehow we have the authority to “negotiate” with the creator of the Universe?……One of the greatest revelations of my life was this - God is God and I am not…Once you get that down…..The rest is not as hard as you think…………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come”

Today begins our Advent journey…Advent is like a “Mini-Lent”…Its a time to prepare our hearts for the “reason for the season” - The birth of Jesus Christ….A child was was born in “plain sight” to the world - But the world “missed it”….Today Jesus walks amongst us just as he did 2000 years ago - Do we see him?

"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths."

We are told at Holy Mass today in the Book of Romans…...............”Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.”……....How are you going to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child this Advent, who is the Light of the world?…..Will you fast? - Go to daily Mass? - Pray the Rosary daily? - Go to Eucharistic Adoration?……How will you prepare your heart for the child?…..The world waits….But to appreciate his coming properly - To be able to look past all the materialism of the season, we must look deep within our self…Have you considered going to Confession with a Priest? - How long has it been?…..This is how we prepare - This is how we make Christmas truly special…….In the Gospel today we are told by St Matthew about the time when Noah was preparing for the flood….."As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man”….How did Noah know the flood was coming?….Why did he go to great lengths to prepare?…..Just as Noah knew - So do we - We are told point blank that Jesus will come again - Are we ready! - If not - Get ready!

"All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths."

Advent is a special time for me…Before I was married, I would spend this time in Kolkata, India…So many wonderful memories…Every year at the beginning of Advent, I would board a plane for 18 hours….Feeling “clean” and “fresh”….Comfortable in my “modern” lifestyle….Working at the time at Morgan Stanley, one of the world's largest Investment Banks….I was in good shape…I ate well…I was very healthy…..And THEN………. I would board the plane and land in Kolkata…The moment I got off the plane - There was a smell to the air…The air has a smell in Kolkata that I can not describe in words…But the moment I landed and smelled it - I knew I was in for “an adventure”….....God had something for me to experience…And each time I went to India for Advent - I was never disappointed - God would change me as a result of the experience: Through the Missionaries of Charity, seeing with my own two eyes their radical sacrifice…Through the street people we served…..Through the volunteers I met from all over the world…..Through the city itself - Kolkata is called by the locals - The City of Joy - And yes, those who know the city understand why it is called by this name……Each Advent a journey would begin for me…Now that I am married with five young children, I no longer go to India for Advent - But a journey begins none-the-less….My wife and I both prepare ourselves for the Christ Child through fasting….Fasting is a good way to sharpen your prayer and when you “go without”, you cling to God all the more…And when you fast, when Christmas Day comes, you enjoy the day so much more! - I invite you to participate in this practice…..Advent is a special time if we make it special…Its so easy to get “caught up” in all the materialism and "noise" of Christmas in America - This was another thing I would always notice when I traveled to India…I would leave JFK airport in New York City and Christmas was in "full gear" - The lights, all the advertisements and “the bling” of a Secular Christmas we all know too well here in America…I would go from that, only to arrive in India, and stark poverty would be like a cold bucket of water dumped over my head….This sharp contrast would bring to my mind Joseph and Mary, how they journeyed together in poverty to Bethlehem, their struggle almost became my struggle in a small way as I lived in a third-world city for three weeks…Eating simply, living in a humble flat and many times getting sick from the air pollution…All these things allowed me to cling to Christ!!!! - To prepare my heart - To share in the “struggle” of the Nativity in a very small way..............So how will you prepare for this journey that starts today?……Make it count!…..As with all journeys, we begin with a “first step”….Take that “step” today!……And enjoy the ride……And prepare the way for Christ!

“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come”………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Mankind usually learns from his mistakes - And that is not a bad thing - As long as we learn

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke how Jesus instructs his friends to pay attention to the signs of the times…..If we are students of history and we look at history in a sober and objective manner….Trends emerge….Human beings really have not changed too much…..And sadly, because of this reality…The same mistakes are repeated….Because of this, one can foresee how certain behaviors produce specific outcomes both historically speaking and personally as well.....…."Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near”…......While no one knows when Christ will return….There are however indicators based upon historical trends of behavior that can give a person some insight as to where a society is heading…..All one has to do is read the pages of the Old Testament…The same patterns repeat themselves over and over again……We are told very clearly in the pages of Scripture to build “our house” upon a solid foundation…..And when we build “our house” upon “sand” - The result is never good…..What is that solid foundation? - And what do you currently see as far as the outcomes of societal choices made today?….Are they good?….Maybe it’s time to explore another way?…..Again, look to periods of history to give you an indication as to what works and what does not work…….If you do this objectively, it should be very clear as to the right path forward for America and the world……If again, you are objective - That is the key….Jesus goes on today in the Gospel…...........”Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away…….Jesus Christ said very clear that he is the Truth - The Truth is an immoveable object…..While we can ignore it, it does not go away and when the Truth is ignored, there are consequences…..What “works” for societies to thrive should be crystal clear to us all…..That is not the problem - The problem is - We delude ourselves - Double and triple down on failed ideologies and ways of life, only to produce the same horrible outcomes…….Again, the Truth does not change - Maybe that means we should consider changing? - No one will force you too - However, denying what stares you in the face does not change the outcomes of historically proven bad choices. - History has 20/20 vision.

“One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him”

Over the years of working with Mother Teresa’s sisters I have seen men who led very bad lives and have made horrible life choices change…They found themselves infected with AIDS…Went to jail……Lost family…..Lost friends….the list goes on….What does it take to make the human mind realize that “my way” does not work?……Many of these men I am speaking about who lived in the AIDS Hospice founded by Mother Teresa in New York City, after experiencing God’s love through the sisters and “coming to the end of themselves” requested to be Baptized - I have seen this with my own two eyes…So the question is - How about us?……What will it take for us to change? - Have we “had enough” yet?………Do we think God is an ogre?….That the Church he founded is there to “make you miserable”?……For those who are objective and are not “wed” to tribal politics or ideologies that are grounded outside of the Triune God…..It should be very clear “things” currently are not working out for America - Right!…..So why don’t we explore an alternative? - What will it take?!!!?…….When I was twenty-two years old…..After fully embracing a secular lifestyle / mindset that the world seemed to "think" was the greatest, most glamorous life possible - Promising us all nothing but success and “happiness” - After taking a big bite out of that "rotten apple” - I had enough!…..I did a 365 degree turn…….I fully embraced my Catholic faith…..And that was the BEST decision of my life….Because of that decision…I have no debt…..I have a good job….I have no destructive vices in my life…..I have money in the bank….I have a faithful wife and strong marriage…I have five beautiful children…..All because I made that one decision - Still not convinced?……….The “world’s idea” of “good” is not good - Sorry! - And how can I say that with such certainty? - Look around - How is it working out?…..You tell a tree by the fruit it bears!……..As I stand before you today - I will swear up and down - And tell you the straight up and down the Truth with a capital “T” - God’s way works!…The rest is up to you - The choice is yours to make…..And If I can do it - So can you!

“His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed”

Today at Mass Jesus tells his friends…”Read the signs of the times”…..What we see should be very clear - But why is it not clear to some?…..Is it because we are rendered blind?…..Due to hardness of heart and our pride….Life does not get better until we “face the facts”…..To be very honest - What Jesus is telling us today in the Gospel is simply common sense - Again, can we see it?!?……We are told in the pages of Scripture - “If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit”…....Before we are to understand what it means to serve others, most especially serve in public office, one must understand what it means personally to serve God - Historically speaking, all governments that are grounded outside of God ALWAYS devolve into tyranny and chaos…..If the reader of this reflection fundamentally disagrees with this statement - I guess you “have not had enough” - So buckle up - There is an old saying in politics - “The people get the leaders they deserve - And they get them good and hard!”……Mankind usually learns from his mistakes - And that is not a bad thing - As long as we learn……………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

So give thanks ahead of time - Full of confidence and hope

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading about how Daniel was saved from the lion’s den…..Evil men plotted for Daniel to be killed…But against all odds, he was saved by the hand of God and as the story progressed, the ones who plotted to kill Daniel, they in turn were punished…..”At his order Daniel was removed from the den, unhurt because he trusted in his God. The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and their wives, to be cast into the lions’ den”…….Daniel put his trust in the Lord, he radically trusted him…So the question today to ponder is - Do we trust him? - I mean really trust him?……To live by Divine Providence is difficult from the prospective of “the modern man”…..I can hear it now - ”What we need does not fall from the sky” - That is for certain!….We must work like everything is up to us and at the same time trust that God will provide….Again - Easier said then done…..To learn to trust in this manner in the Lord takes time…..However - Grace builds upon grace and so does trust….And with each struggle and obstacle that is overcome, one slowly begins to trust more and more that the Lord will provide….Why? - Because he does - He loves us and will never let us down!

“He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and he delivered Daniel from the lions’ power”

We all need reminders…..Being a father of five children, my wife and I have trusted in the Lord our entire marriage and he has never let us down….But sometimes we worry…....We doubt….This is human and because of our shared humanity, he need to be reminded of God’s providence….For me, that comes when I visit Mother Teresa’s sisters…A few days ago, I spent the day with them in New York City….....They continue to form and teach me and for that I am forever grateful…..The Missionaries of Charity are all over the world…They feed, cloth and care for literally millions of people each year…..Now for the part you may not know…They do not solicit money - Did you hear that!…..All their donations are unsolicited…Think about that for a second….Think about how much money it takes to feed millions of people each year…....Never mind how much money it takes to provide for thousands of nuns who serve the poor in every corner of the world…....And they do not make anything, sell anything nor do they solicit a dime…I am telling you the truth…All their donations are unsolicited!…..This should teach us all something….When we do things God’s way - And we “do our part” - Guess what? - God will do his part and provide - Bet the farm on that!……My recent visit to the sisters was, as always, fruitful for me spiritually….They are an example for the entire Catholic world in my humble opinion - They are “the best of us”….As everyday Catholics in the pews around the world…As husbands, wives, fathers and mothers - Who have real concerns…Who are raising children in a world gone mad!….We must learn to trust the Lord….God will not always give us what we want - But God will ALWAYS give us what we need…..Our "modern" mindset needs to change and that happens only through God’s grace - God will provide…Just maybe not the way we “think” he will - But he will provide!

“Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand”

The story of Daniel read to us at Mass today reminds us that God is a father…And as we all know, a good father provides for his children…..We must learn to trust God even more then we trust ourself…..God’s plan for our lives is infinitely better than our plan - Let me stop right there - Do you believe that?……I mean really believe that!……As Catholics, everything asked of us by the Catholic Church is possible - Again, let me stop right there - Do you believe that?…..The problem is, we do not trust - We trust ourselves more then God - A huge mistake…..Jesus invited St Peter to “get out of the boat” - He invites us too - To do the exact same thing! - We need to “get out of the boat” and venture into “the deep”…..Most of us do not do this - We want to be "comfortable" - Living a life that we tell ourself is in our control……This is not the life that Jesus invites us to live as Catholics…………We must venture into the deep - Knowing that God will provide....So give thanks ahead of time - Full of confidence and hope..........JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

There will always be a cost associated with being a disciple of Jesus Christ - Pay it…And rejoice

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus tells his friends something we all know too well…The world hates the Truth and because it hates the Truth, it will hate those who speak it as well as live by it….The world and God are at odds - Always have and always will be…..To think otherwise is a delusion…….Jesus pushed the boundaries of society…To put it in terms we can all understand - He “called out the world” - And the world was “not having it” - Why? - Because the world was not interested in changing……Nothing has changed from the time of Christ to this very day……”Jesus said to the crowd: "They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives”……Notice in the warning Jesus gave to his friends - When the enemies of God are confronted with the Truth - They have no defense against it….”I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute” - Why is that?….Because the Truth is an “immovable object” - Its recognized by everyone even when it is rejected - Why? - Because it is written upon every human heart…So why does humanity reject something that is grafted into human DNA? - Why? - Because there is a deep cost that goes along with embracing the Truth - And the world is not willing to “pay the price”…..As Catholics we must we willing to “pay that price”……I have heard people say - Beware of celebrity priests…Why would someone say that?….Because a holy priest more times then not is despised by the world - Why is that? - Because "that kind of priest” encourages people to change - He "calls it like it is" as we say in New Jersey…..Such a priest does not “go along to get along”….And because of that - Many people will hate “that kind of priest”…..”Father So-and-So is so rigid” - I have heard it before……Jesus was nailed to a cross - Remember that!…..To embrace the Truth means you too will have enemies - That comes with the territory…But also remember this - Enemies can be “won over”…..Catholics should not be afraid to have enemies…We should look at this reality as an opportunity…..To win them over

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

To be Catholic in the public square is not easy…Never has and never will be…..But this is what we must be - A witness….When people know you to be “that kind of Catholic” - They watch you very carefully - Looking for you to “mess up” - Let them look and allow God to “work” - That is my feel about that!…….......I go to daily Mass at my job…I work as a Compliance Officer for a European Investment Bank in New York City…Recently it was lunch time and I was headed to Mass when my managing director’s boss, an Ivy League educated attorney was in the elevator with me….She asked me where I was going to lunch…I told her I was headed to Mass…She then asked - “You don’t eat lunch”….....I told her no…I could tell my response made her very uncomfortable….Nothing happened to me as a result of that conversation at work but since that conversation, I can feel this woman’s eyes on me every lunch hour from her office when I get up to go to Mass…..Now - One can look at this encounter with this lawyer I had as a good thing - Maybe it made her “think” about “things” - Bringing God into the forefront of her mind…But such an encounter does “label” me…..It clearly made me viewed as a kind of “odd-ball” in her eyes….Are we willing to be the “odd-man out” because of our faith at work or in our community?….Are we willing to allow our Catholic faith to impact our career?….Do we refuse to take part in certain activities at work that compromise our faith?……As Catholics we must fully digest that we “can not have our cake and eat it too” in this world….That goes for lay-people in the pews and that also goes for Priests and Bishops…..Currently we are free to practice our Catholic faith in America - BUT - There is a subtle implication in the “polite world” of money and power about Catholics….You go to daily Mass?….You have many children?…..You are not for same sex marriage?…You do not support abortion?…I guess you are “that kind of Catholic! - Hmmmmmm?!?…..Again, currently the law and the First Amendment in America protects our Catholic faith - But what happens when it does not?….How will you respond?…Don’t answer! - Rely on God’s grace…Build a solid foundation in your life through daily prayer, fasting and Sacramental living…..Do not trust yourself - But trust in God…Then when the moment comes - If it comes - You will be ready!

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

Today at Mass Jesus warns us - Do you take his warning seriously?….If you don’t - well - You should!…..The world has not changed too much since the time of Christ…..It will never be “politically correct” to fully embrace our Catholic faith in the public square - Face it!……If you are “that kind of Catholic” - There will be many people who hate you…..Our response however should be different then theirs to us….Allow me to explain - Its hard to hate a “good guy”….What do I mean by that?…..When the world hates you because you embrace the Truth - And you do not respond in kind - This opens a door - Maybe not to a promotion at work - But maybe a future conversation…..Maybe the way you comport yourself will make people “think” long and hard about themself - This is how hearts and minds change….But to be this witness, we must be willing to pay the price…….There will always be a cost associated with being a disciple of Jesus Christ - Pay it…And rejoice…….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Utilize the gifts given to you……And “ignore the noise”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of Luke a question is asked of Jesus about the end of time……."Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky”…….God’s ways are not our ways…..And only God knows when the “final whistle will blow”…....In the mean time - Are we ready to stand before the Son of Man?…..As I tell my five children all the time when they fight with each other....…”You worry about you”….....What do I mean by that?...…We can not control other people…We can only control our self…...Jesus is the son of God and Jesus founded one church - The Catholic Church….....In that Church we will find everything we need….Ground your life in First Principals - And disregard “all the noise”…...What do I mean by noise?…..Anything that does do come from the pages of Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church is NOISE - Educate yourself in the faith……The Deposit of Faith is not ours - It belongs to God himself…Our job as Catholics is simply to “pass it on”…..Jesus tells us today to expect “noise” - So do not be troubled by it or surprised when you see and hear “the noise”…..As my father would always say to me - “Joe - Straight Ahead”….Ground your life in First Principals…….Rosary every day - Sacramental Confession once a month - Mass every week……As I tell my children - “You worry about you”……and let God be God…..As we say in New Jersey - "He's got this"

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

We are reminded in Scripture that Jesus is in control…Even when we think the world is on the brink of collapse…..”He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”………How easy we forget this event told to us in the pages of Scripture……It is very human to want to be comfortable - “I get it”…….But when we are too comfortable, most times we do not grow…..I recently read a book about a number of Catholic saints who at one time in their life lived as great sinners…The book was titled Turning Points - Each of us in many ways have a “Turning Point” moment in life………But before that moment comes, we will experience “storms”…....There is a purpose for those storms…Remember, everything is willed by God - What does that mean?…If God did not allow it to happen - It would not happen….Everything we see in this world…Even the worst of evil people and saddest of tragedies….All will work towards a greater good in the end….God gives man free will and man as we know “screws it up” - But God “plays the long game”……We just need to learn to trust God…How do we do that?…Well - Like everything else, trust begins with small things and builds upon itself….I remember my wedding day….Thinking about how my wife and I would be able to afford a big family…....Both of us were open to life, which means we do not and have never used contraception…How are we going to do it I thought? - You see how the devil works? - Fear does not come from God - Never forget that!……Well, 12 years later - Five children later…..and in the process sadly we lost three children to miscarriages…and here we are - We did it!….And who knows, maybe another child is to come in the future - maybe / maybe not - Not up to me!….All the “storms” of life come and go….As my Father would also tell me when I was a boy - “Joe - this too will pass”…But in the process, God uses these “storms” to teach us…To form us…To sanctify us…To make us a holy people.

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

Our Lord today in the Gospel at Mass tells his friends - “Don’t worry about all the craziness you see around you”…..He is telling us today the same thing…..Do not put your faith in this world or in men for that matter…Trust in the things that can never change - The things which are eternal….....God is real - Do you believe that?….God created one Church - That is a historical fact!….And everything we need is in that Church - The Catholic Church…..Utilize the gifts given to you……And “ignore the noise”…….………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Jesus was not “playing around” - And neither should we - That is - If we are serious

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke Jesus tells a story about sacrifice…..Love is about sacrifice….We have lost the meaning of the word today - Sacrifice…..However, when sacrificial love is witnessed…Heads turn and hearts change…This is the love of Jesus Christ - This is what it means to be Catholic….To give all - EVERYTHING - Now that I made you uncomfortable - Buckle up! - I am just getting started……..The example of a single Mom taking care of a handicapped child in a garden apartment……Working class parents giving their children a world class education at a deep personal cost………A family having many children and bearing the sacrifices that go along with it…….Fostering children, who come from violent or drug addicted backgrounds……This is the kind of witness that cannot be ignored…These choices scream of Jesus Christ - No words necessary……….”When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood”……….If we are serious about who we say we are…We have to live it!…And to live it means we love sacrificially……Whether a single person, a married couple, a priest or bishop - No matter…..This is how the faith spreads and grows - The only way…..A sacrificial life transcends culture, languages, and economic class - It speaks a universal language…..This was the message from the Cross and this is the message Catholics must communicate with our very lives….This is how we impact the world - Not by “fancy words”….But by sacrificial love…Love that costs us

“Stay awake!………For you do not know when the Son of Man will come”

India is a country with many layers to it…Some of the richest people in the world live in India, also some of the poorest people human eyes have ever seem….One year when I was in Kolkata, Mother Teresa’s sisters asked some of the men who were volunteering if we could help take some severely handicapped children to the Science Museum in the city…This museum in Kolkata was for the the upper classes - There was no way the poor could afford it or would even go - It simply was “not for them”…So when about 50 of us showed up carrying handicapped children from the slums of the city….”All eyes” were on us…..I can remember the look on the faces of the people on the line of the museum to this very day…..”Stunned” is a word that comes to mind…..Men from Europe, America, Canada, Australia, a bunch of Catholic nuns and all carrying handicapped poor children…Over the years of working with Mother Teresa’s sisters, I have seen that look again and again in San Francisco, Haiti and in New York…..STUNNED……People staring wide eyed at what the sisters do….Working against all odds with next to nothing - Walking the halls of dangerous housing projects, living in the slums of the third world, going where no one goes and doing what no one does!…..This is a witness that can not be ignored by even the hardest of hearts in our world today…..Either such a person who does this is totally crazy or they know something that most of us do not know……The question we as Catholics have to ask ourselves is this - Are we serious about our faith?…..Because if we are - We too will do what is hard!…We too will make deep sacrifices…..Why is that? - Because we take Jesus at his word….Is heaven our true home? - If we say YES to that question - Prove it!….And we prove it, as we say in New Jersey, by “putting our money where our mouth is”…..I state all this because this is how we teach the world about who Jesus Christ real is - By living sacrifically - This is also how we teach the world about what love really is all about……The rest of it, is just “fancy words”…..Actions speak - So speak with your life

“Stay awake!………For you do not know when the Son of Man will come”

Today we are told a story in the Gospel at Mass about a woman who gave her all - She gave her very self - Why?…..Well, it’s simple - She understood who God really is…She understood what love looks like and is all about….And she had the courage and faith to live her belief out loud - With her life - No words necessary….The bottom line is this - If we say we are Catholic and our life is not lived out sacrificially…No one will believe us!….Let that sink in deep - Whether you are single, married, a priest or a bishop……We can say all the “right things” and say them perfectly for that matter - Still not a soul will believe us in the secular world!…….This is the driving problem in America…Most of us have really never seen what the Catholic faith looks like…..We live in such a “comfortable world”…I too came from this same “comfortable world” - I am a by-product of it as well - So I “get it”….But when the Catholic faith is lived radically - And when “that kind of Church” is witnessed - A Church which embraces sacrificial love - A love that costs!…..This is the witness that changes hearts and turns heads - Why? - Because it screams of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love from the cross for sinners…. Again - Are we “serious” about what we say we believe as Catholics? - Living sacrificially is not for the faint of heart….But let’s be honest - Jesus was not “playing around” - And neither should we - That is - If we are serious……..JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html