The things that last are “rooted” in God - This is a time tested reality…Don’t believe me? - Just wait, you will get your answer - In time

Today at Holy Mass we hear Jesus say something in the Gospel of St Matthew that we can all bank on…..”He said in reply, Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit”…….We have all heard the phrase “time tested”….Well, Jesus is confirming that phrase today - Do we believe him is the question to ponder.....….EVERYTHING that is not of God will NOT LAST…This includes ideas, empires, businesses, and even people!…..Bank on that statement….For those of us who have “been around” long enough - We have seen that for ourselves…People we have known over the years - Bad behavior ALWAYS catches up to them - Its just a matter of time - I have witnessed this with my own two eyes both professionally and personally……Now conversely, the same goes with Godly behavior…Jesus affirms this reality as well…..”By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit”…….Again - Take that to the bank!……This is why we must build our life on a solid foundation….On something that is rock solid…There is nothing more solid than to build a life upon our Catholics faith….Why?…Because it is time tested - To deny that is to deny reality…..And if we care to look - You can see that for yourself.

“A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not off from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me”

When a couple gets married I think it’s fair to say no one ever thinks or wants to get divorced but as we all know divorce is a reality in America….Why is that the case?……Many factors contribute to this reality but one of the driving factors is - We no longer invite God into our marriages….This is a FACT and this is the driving reason why people get divorced….I can list for you sociological fact after fact…This is reality….God’s way works - Its been time tested and proven!…We can deny it all day and everyday - But that fact will not change…So here is the question - Why would we enter arguably the most important decision of our life and not build upon a time tested reality?……Do we “somehow think” we are so special that we will “beat the odds”?….I am only saying this because the statistics speak for themselves and we should ALL want what is not only best for our family but what is best for ourselves! - RIGHT!?!…….Our Church needs to do a MUCH better job preparing married couples to make the biggest decision of their life…We are not doing anyone any favors by not speaking the hard truths about what marriage REALLY is all about and what makes for a successful marriage…..What our society has accepted as “normal” both when it comes to “dating” as well as what makes for a healthy marriage has produced so much harm to America - So many people are wounded…So many children have “issues” because of this “norm”……The sexual revolution has done more harm to America then an atomic bomb could ever do!……Maybe it’s time to re-think what it means to “date”….Maybe it’s time to re-think what it means to get married?….Because if we do not - The statistics will not change……God’s way works!…And “holding your breath” in the corner does not change that reality……”Every one 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 have ears - Let them hear…What our society calls a “right of passage” for our young adults is an invitation to failure…..Don’t let it happen to your children and that starts with modeling a God centered marriage to them. If you agree - Start today!

“For I acknowledge my offense; and my sin is before me always: Against you only have I sinned; and done what is evil in your sight”

Today we hear in the Gospel something that many people today call “karma”….There is not such thing as karma…However - I will tell you what I KNOW to be true - ”We reap what we sow” in life: Period - Full Stop!…….Sadly, this concept is usually learned the hard way and for most of us, this understanding comes later in life through experience…This idea for the most part is lost on the young…But what can we do to change that?…..Example is everything, while no one is perfect, our children need to witness Christ in us and this requires Sacramental grace….God MUST not only be the center of our marriage but also the center of our home…..Why?…Because God’s way works!…..And our children will not listen to what we say…They will however “listen” to what we do!…Actions speak!…..Do we pray the Rosary as a family?….Do we go to Confession on Saturdays with a Catholic priest as a family?…Do we go to Mass on Sunday as a family?…..Sadly our society has forgotten all of these pillars of life - We are “too sophisticated”….Well, maybe its time to take stock….Statistics do not lie, even when you choice to ignore them….And life does not “magically” get better….God loves us but we have to cooperate with him to “reap” the benefits of a good life…..The things that last are “rooted” in God - This is a time tested reality…Don’t believe me? - Just wait, you will get your answer - In time