‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead”….…….Jesus knew who he was - Do you?

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Mark Jesus say something that absolutely confounds those who live secular lives……..….”If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”……As we all know, powerful men and women in this world “talk a good game” about “service” but when push comes to shove are they willing to be last in their desire to serve others?…….Our pride and ego get in the way…..If we take a minute to think about who Jesus Christ truly was - He was God - And how he walked among men - How he allowed men to brutally murder him…Scripture tells us…”He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth”…The entire time he was God!…..Jesus put others first…….This is what we must do too….Particularly Catholic men…..We must lead from the front starting with our families - By our example - Dad goes last!…….In order to live like this, we must learn through prayer and God’s grace who we truly are - We are children of God, heirs and sons of a King…..Because if we do not know who we are to our core, we will listen to the “whispers of the world” and put down our cross - Our ego will “get in the way”….The first reading from Mass today tells us something we do not want to hear……..”My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him”…..Easier said than done!……This is why we must rely on Sacramental grace, daily prayer and weekly fasting……Jesus stood down the powers of hell and “did not open his mouth”…Because he knew who he was…Do you know who you are?

“May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.”

If we have been given gifts in this world…Whether those gifts have to do with a good education, financial stability, a family, etc…How do we use them?…Do we put our gifts at the service of others?……Scripture is very clear about how we are to use what is given to us…..This is why the most gifted, must be the servant of others…..Have you ever asked yourself why a small amount of people in the world have all the money and power?…Well, God did not ordain it to be that way….People are not all equal when it comes to talent…This is reality…However, those who have been given much, much will be expected of them……The most gifted were intended by God to lead and serve others - To “look out for them”……I know a man who has seven children…This man is a retired anesthesiologist and six of his children were very successful…One of his sons is even a priest…However, he has one son who is a drug addict and has gone to jail…..Should the brothers and sisters who seemed to have inherited all the “gifts” forget about their troubled brother?…This is what the world does right before our eyes each day…We seem to forget that everything we have is a gift…And everything we have can be taken away in one hot New York minute!…Don’t believe me?…Tell that to all the millionaires that died on September 11th when the Trade Centers were attacked in New York City….No one ever became poor by sharing…..This is why I asked the question…Do you know who your are? - Sadly most people in the world do not…We chase after an image of who and what we are supposed to be…And in doing so we lose sight of who we truly are…..In order to become people for others, we must become confident in our own identity…We must not strive to build “our” kingdom here on earth……In doing so, if we “take up our cross” and follow the Carpenter from Nazareth…Becoming who we were born to be - A person for others - The world will not value us the way we may want it too ….”Carrying the Cross” does not get you on the cover of popular magazines!.....…When this happens - And it will…When you are undervalued by the world…Think about Jesus Christ when he was crowned with thrones…”He did not open is mouth”…He accepted his role as the suffering servant……“My kingdom is not of this world”…..Jesus told his Pontius Pilate - How about us?…Where is your Kingdom?….The answer to those questions stems from another question…Do you know who you truly are?

"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.”

Today St Mark tells us in this Gospel at Mass that in order to follow Jesus we must become people for others…This means putting aside many of the “things” we like and want to do…It may even mean giving up on some of our “dreams”…..In order to live in this manner we must acquire a rock solid understanding of our identity as children of God, heirs to a God’s Kingdom - Because if we are not grounded in this fundamental idea - We will put down the Cross and look to “get mine” in the here and now….If you have been blessed to have been given many gifts - We are called to share - Period Full Stop!.....To give of our self - To become a people for others......In doing so, we will inherit eternal life…….Don’t believe me? - ”‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours. He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead”…….Jesus knew who he was - Do you?