Maybe it’s time to “take a look” for yourself?…..Have we had enough of the culture of death? - I have!……”Send forth your spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the earth”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew we hear an interesting conversation between St Peter about Jesus…They are talking about paying taxes to the state…..Jesus tells Peter indirectly that we are to be good citizens and pay our taxes…But there is also another implication made by their conversation…While we live under the laws of the state….Our true home is not the state - Its the Kingdom of God - We are citizens of heaven…………..”When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, Does not your teacher pay the temple tax? Yes, he said”……Catholics are to be in the world but not of the world - Our lives should bear witness to God’s Kingdom…That means we should live and be different……Far too many Catholics in America are “just like everyone else”…In fact, we aspire to be - This needs to STOP!…..How can we be a “light to the nations” if we are like everyone else?…..Just by the way we live, people should be able to tell that we are Catholic…The very sight of our family should say everything the world needs to know….As a 55 year old man, I have seen enough of the world to understand VERY CLEARLY how “things work”…And guess what? - They don’t work!……..This is why Catholics must bear witness to the world “something else” - A better way!…….”You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father”…….Is our faith strong enough to live differently?……Are we like “everyone else”?……..Our world needs witnesses…..Be one!…..People find courage when a small group of people “stand up”….Its time to stand up!

“God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Are we building our kingdom here on earth?…or…Are we “storing up” our treasures in heaven?…..Here is the thing - You do not have to answer the question, our life’s witness gives the answer - And I am not talking about the pictures we post on Facebook!….You see - Our American society is not convinced of the “story” that Jesus told…Oh - We “like” Jesus, when something bad happens…Or when we are sick…Or when a loved one dies…But when things are moving along smoothly - We simply do not believe him….I have watched for my entire life Baptized Catholics “buy in” to a culture that has eaten them alive!…..We forget about the eternal…..And put God in the “back seat”…..And in the process, our children watch and do the same - And they get eaten alive too!…..There is another way - I hope you know?!?……People need to see for themselves Catholics living their faith in real time…..Some may say such people are fundamentalists - Or are radicals….I say they simply are Catholic…..And guess what - It works!…..Family life thrives….Children are healthy……Married life is a joy and grows strong with each passing year…It works!….But people need to see it…..And because of the lack of witnesses…..Our people keep “buying in” to the narrative “sold” to them by the culture, which is pure poison - Which eats them alive, whether they live in a multi-million dollar home or in a garden apartment……Every summer my family and I travel to Ohio where Catholic families gather for a vacation together…To witness huge families with numerous children interact together, you would think you are watching a movie or are on another planet…That is how foreign the sight of a healthy society has become…..This is what is needed today….The witness of “God’s Kingdom” to the world in the here and now….To do that we have to dare to live differently and we get that courage to “dare” from Sacramental grace, daily prayer and weekly fasting…..By doing so, we are transformed and so is our family…And in turn so is society

“He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word!”

Today in the Gospel from Mass St Peter asks Jesus if he has to pay taxes…Jesus tells him yes…However, our citizenship resides in heaven….We only live in “the state” on a temporary basis….Do we think in this manner?…….Life is so short, it really is…..Catholics should never allow society to set the tone…We need to set the tone….Once our world sees for itself that God’s way really works…..Our culture may begin to second guess the “bill of goods” sold to them, which has robbed America of the True, the Good and the Beautiful…..As a keen observer of people and society, in recent years, I have watched small thriving Catholic communities “pop-up” across this nation…The Holy Spirit is on the move!…..Maybe it’s time to “take a look” for yourself?…..Have we had enough of the culture of death? - I have!……”Send forth your spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the earth”