To be able to “walk the narrow road” we all need assistance - Guess what?…Jesus knew that…And that is why he founded a Church and did not write a book - Its not enough to read “the book”

Today at Holy Mass Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Luke what we must do.....…."Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough”…….There is a notion amongst Protestant circles in America that we are “Once Saved, Always Saved”…....What we just read today from Scripture contradicts that false belief - "Your “salvation” can not be lost", Jesus is telling us otherwise…..The same Protestant circles profess that their only source of authority is the Bible…Well - The message from Jesus in Scripture today seems to contradict this model of thinking as well - Is it just me? - Read it for yourself…..While we can not earn heaven, we are saved by both faith and works - The pages of Scripture are very clear about that….Also, our need for sanctifying grace should also be taken into consideration…Due to our fallen human nature, which is tainted by original sin, we need God’s grace in order to live as we were created to be…To think otherwise of a fools errand…Where do we get this grace?…..Daily Prayer, fasting and living a Sacramental life……How can our world believe in Christ and the validity of our Catholic faith if the world does not see it lived out in real time?…..To think we can do this grounded on our own strength and will power again is a fools errand…”The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”

“I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me”

Why go to a Sacramental Confession once a month if you are not living in mortal sin?…..A good question…..There are circles within the Catholic Church, some who are even priests who do not stress this practice…..... I choose to listen to the saints: Pope John Paul II; Fulton Sheen & Padre Pio….These man preached about the importance of monthly confession…...Why?…..Because this is how we are made accountable for our actions, we are given grace to overcome our faults; and this is how we grow in virtue……To think we will grow in virtue without the help of God is again a fools errand….The “name of the game” is to grow ever closer to God…In doing so, we experience deep joy and peace in the here and now…Not to mention we prepare our soul for our “exit interview” when we leave this earth……I was talking to my wife last night and we were discussing how America has lost its way….Our people have simply forgot how to live well….We have forgotten the basics…..Pay your bills & live within your means, Get married - Stay married, Go to Sunday Mass - I could go on and on…..These are basics for leading a good life….And we have abandoned them….What is missing? - In a word - GRACE….Without God’s grace we are lost - And look around - America at this point in history is truly lost….We must again avail ourselves to God’s grace - Embrace First Principals…And everything will fall into place once again….Jesus tells us point blank in the Gospel today at Mass…"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough”…He is telling us VERY CLEARLY that we are not strong enough on our own to get where we need to go - Just read the words on the page!!!!…I am not making this up - So what must we do?….We need to do as St Paul tells us….”So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work”…..We must cooperate with God - If we do our part, God will do his!

“For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever”

Today Jesus at Mass challenges us - As he often does…He tells us very clearly that the path to heaven is not an easy road to walk - Let’s stop right their - Do you believe that?…Because our culture clearly does not - There is this false idea going around that all you have to do is “Believe in Jesus” - And heaven is a lock!…Well - Jesus is telling us today that simply is not the case….So how do we walk this narrow road?…While God opened the gates of heaven to mankind through the sacrifice of his only son, it seems that we have to “do our part too” - Right?…..Its pretty clear to me - And here is the good news - What is asked of us - Is GIVEN to us through GRACE - If we avail ourselves to it…..Pray the Rosary everyday (takes 15 minutes)…Go to Mass every week and receive the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace (takes 45 minutes per week)….& Go to Confession every month with a Catholic Priest (takes 5 minutes per month)…All those things cost you NOTHING and take a very limited amount of time…..This is how we “stay on the narrow road” that Jesus tells us today we MUST walk - This is not “rocket science”…..He also tells us that many “will not be strong enough”…Take a guess who those “many” are? - You and me - And everyone in between!…That is why we need to embrace Sacramental living - Those who have ears - Let them hear…..”The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”…..And to be able to “walk the narrow road” we all need assistance - Guess what?…Jesus knew that…And that is why he founded a Church and did not write a book - Its not enough to read “the book”