America has some of the highest levels of depression recorded in the world - What does that say about the condition of our nation’s collective soul?…..The numbers don’t lie and the consequences are real

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, Jesus addresses the scholars of the law…He tells them that they have lost sight of the “trees in the forest”…......”You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence”……Is life all about a “show”….Social Media is a good example of this…..Its so easy to “post” pictures and memes…And at the same time forget about our soul, which is the only thing that is eternal…..There is a saying in Corporate America - “Fake it until you make it”…..This is not how it works when it comes to how God views us and the world…....There is nothing that is “performed in darkness that will not be brought to the light”…..Americans like to say…....”Keep it Real”….....Well - There is not better way to “Keep it Real” then to ensure that the condition of our soul is our first priority - Such a person is a visible sign to the world that God is real and that He loves us….Joy and peace are tangibly perceived from such a person, who has his “soul in order”…..This is what Jesus was addressing today…..Its very easy to get “caught up” in what we “see” on the surface of society and of people….God sees passed the surface and what is under the surface is most important - Why is that you may ask? - Because what is under the surface is eternal…Everything else fades away

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart”

The condition of one’s soul is reflected in how a person lives their life - The choices they make - And everything in life comes down to choices….Just by the way a person addresses another in an elevator can give an indication of the condition of their soul….If our soul is not in order, it is impossible to have peace…It is also a leading indicator as to why there is so much depression in America today…...Why people are taking “prescription medication” to “lift them up” as well as to enable themselves to get to sleep at night…..How is it that the wealthiest nation on the plant has some of the highest levels of depression?…Does that make any sense?…..In many ways it does….We have forgotten that the condition of our soul drives whether we live truly satisfied lives……Jesus addresses the scholars of the law today at Mass saying……..”You cleanse the outside of cup and dish” but you forget what is most important……So much of what we see today all around us is a result of this model of thinking…….This morning while doing my spiritual reading, I read something from the Servant of God Dorthy Day (1980) - This is what she wrote: “I am speaking of heavenly things, but heaven and earth are linked together as the body and soul are linked together”….We can not have a fulfilled life without first caring for our soul….And trust me - It shows…..The condition of our soul is shown in the human eyes, its perceived in the way we greet one another, in the simplest of gestures….When it comes to God, there is no such thing as - “Fake it to you make it”……And when we “fake it”….We lose our peace and joy

“Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean”

Today Jesus in the Gospel at Mass is telling us…Pay attention to the most important thing - The condition of your soul….With all things, one must build on a solid foundation…....Whether it is an athlete, a person starting a business or in a human relationship…..When we get “first principals” right - Everything else falls into place…..The same goes for how well we care for our interior life and the condition of our soul….This is why the saints recommend going to a monthly Sacramental Confession with a Priest….Modern Americans love to care for their bodies, which is a good thing…We go to the gym six days a week, we shower each day, etc…All those things are important…But what about the care of our soul?….As we age our bodies begin to break down and eventually we die….Its our soul that lives on….This is reality!…And with that said, because the soul is the only eternal aspect of our person which we possess, don’t you think it’s a good idea to give it priority of place in our life? - To care and nurture it daily?…..…Joy and peace are directly related to the condition of our soul - That too is reality and everyone wants to be happy - But do we care to pursue the only thing that makes for authentic joy and peace?……America has some of the highest levels of depression recorded in the world - What does that say about the condition of our nation’s collective soul?…..The numbers don’t lie and the consequences are real………………JMJ