With one small stone

Our Catholic faith must be boiled down to the micro-level - First Principals….When First Principals are practiced consistently, they lead to the macro-level…But First Principals are often ignored…..We argue about topics and dogmas that we have no control over - That can never change…We give authority to people and even give authority to our very self when we have no authority…..Why bring this up?…...This morning I read a reflection from a holy priest that I found to be very edifying…..He too boils his faith-focus down to the micro-level…The care of each soul, which stands directly in front of him…Here is what he said…”The test is to realize that nothing more important matters than the person in front of us in that instant - Who knows but that the salvation of a soul is at stake even in our initial contact with that person”……Do we view each person we encounter this way?……I thought about this, and I wish I could say I do…..To God, each person is infinitely valuable…..For all you parents out there - What would you do if one of your children were living on the street?…To what ends would you go to bring that child back home?….From God’s prospective, magnify the love you have for your own children a million-fold…..Each person has value and each soul lives eternally, either in heaven or in hell…..How do we respond?…Do we assist that soul or do we drive them further away from God?

"Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”….But they were unable to answer his question.”

Today at Holy Mass, Jesus went to eat at the home of one of the leading Pharisees….St Luke’s gospel tells us…”The people observed him carefully”….Why?….Did the crowd have good intentions as they “observed” Christ?…Or were they looking for him to make a mistake?…..How do we view our fellow Catholics who are doing the right thing?…..Anyway - Back to the Gospel today…Jesus sees a man who is sick and he cures him…..Notice - Jesus’ concern was not on the “macro-level”…But on the “micro-level” - It was all about the person standing right in front of him…..And the Pharisees had something to say about it…They were hypercritical of Christ…They did not care about the sick person, nor for that matter did they even “see” him….How about us?…..And how do we acquire this “sight”, to “see” the very person in front of us?….To focus on the the things we can control…It all comes down to “First Principals”…When we get “First Principals” right…Our “vision” broadens……Pray the Rosary daily…Give your confession to a Priest monthly….Receive the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace weekly at Mass with your family….These are First Principals…..These are things we each can do….They cost us nothing........And when we do these practices consistently…..Big things happen

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me”

Before we “solve all the worlds problems”, we have to master the basics…The great saints were simple people at their core…They did not focus on what was beyond them…….When we as Catholics take this approach - Focusing on the basics…..Our impact will magnify in ways we never imagined…..One stone thrown into a pool of still water has many ripples…..Stop trying to hold back the ocean and focus on being that one small stone……David slew the giant Goliath with one single stone…..And if I was to bet - That is how the 21st century “giants” will fall as well - With one small stone………………..JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Our greatest “argument” is our joy!

Today at Holy Mass we hear Jesus in the Gospel of St Luke address the people of his day who reject him….."Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”….I want to focus this reflection upon the words “unwilling” and “joy”….We must choose God…Its entirely up to us…God gives us free will and what we do with it is again up to us…..The answers to the problems we face collectively in the world today can in many ways so easily be resolved…But we want NO part of the resolution…The answer to our problems will not be resolved by throwing more money at these problems….Found in political ideology or in voting for a political strong man….The answer to the worlds problems comes down to bending our will to God….And as the Gospel today tells us…The people of Jerusalem were “unwilling” - As they are today - Why?……To break it down in practical terms - We do not believe in what Jesus is “selling”…..We “think” God takes from us and does not give….We believe no matter what we do, we all go to heaven no matter what…We believe there is no sin….There is really no accountability….Ultimately, we believe the lie of the ancient serpent, who is very real and is still hypnotizing the world with his lies…..As Catholics, what can we do to open the eyes of the world?……Can we argue the world into the doors of the Church?….Can we read and recite dogma after dogma in an attempt to convince an unbelieving world?…….The answers to those questions is an emphatic - NO….So what must we do? - The world must see our joy……The closer one gets to God, the more joy that person receives…..And joy is infectious!……The average Catholic in the pews across America does not have to memorize chapter and verse from ancient books…Our Catholic faith, boiled down in its simplest form gives us everything we need - The result will be a pure heart - Which in turn will bring us joy….The world today lacks this joy and no matter who you are…We all want this joy….This is something only God can give….But don’t take my word for it…..This is what Jesus had to say about this subject……”I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”….The joy that Christ gives confounds the world! - Its our best argument

“I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD, and in the midst of the throng I will praise him, For he stood at the right hand of the poor man, to save him from those who would condemn his soul”

I am an educated man…..I co-host a radio show for a Catholic Network in Connecticut and as a result I have spoken with the most profound Catholic thinkers across America…And I have done this for years now…I have read their books….And I have done this day in and day out…While I have grown as a Catholic as well as a person due to these conversations…....Can I say with honestly that any of these books or conversations has moved me to my very core?…The answer would be NO - I will share with you an experience I had that once did…It had nothing to do with books or esoteric conversations with Catholic intellectuals….In fact, it was just the opposite…..Before I was married I traveled to Haiti on a humanitarian trip…..I went down there with two Americans and stayed in Port au prince, the capital of Haiti and one of the poorest cities in the world…Mother Teresa’s sisters provided us with a place to stay…..Next to the Missionaries of Charity Convent was a Catholic grammar school….And on this particular day that I was there, the school had a Mass and all the children attended…....There were hundreds of them……The Mass was about to begin and I sat amongst these very poor children….To say I “stuck out” is an understatement…When the Mass began and the old organ began to play - These children, some of the poorest children in the world - They began to sing with such joy at the top of their lungs…..As I looked infront of me, there was a Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with his arms extended….Looking at that statue and hearing the collective joyful voices of these children was completely overwhelming - I literally could have fell over!…...All I could think to myself was - These our God’s people!!!!…...I thought that in the most profound way and believed it deeper than words could explain, both now as I write this reflection and as this event was happening in real time……The joy of those children and the sound of their voices was more profound then all the books I have read cross my entire life…...More profound then all the conversations I helped facilitate with Catholic intellectuals on my radio show combined…..The witness of purity and the sound and sight of authentic joy…..This is how we must evangelize the world…..”Joy is the net that will catch many souls”….Mother Teresa always would say that…And do you know what? - She was right.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Today at Mass Jesus addresses those who reject him….They are “unwilling” to accept what he has presenting to them…..What a pity and what a huge mistake…..The people of Jesus’ day are no different then the people today in many ways…Searching for “something”…..And then we Catholics come along - And post our memes and pictures on social media…We speak of Christ in our streets…We argue…..We debate…And guess what?…..The world is still “unwilling” to conform to the will of God…..How about we try something different?…How about we show the world just how much joy one can have by being close to God…And I am not talking about fleeting joy either - But joy that lasts and can endure anything the world can “throw at it”....….When Catholics start showing the world this kind of joy…Trust me - People will “think twice” and heads will turn…Why?….Because everyone wants this kind of joy and do you know what? - This kind of JOY is not more sale!…Only God can give us this joy…..And this joy is ours for the taking!…..This is how we convince the world - Our greatest “argument” is our joy!…………………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

It all comes down to how we “see” the world and how we “see” the world will guide all our daily choices

Today at Holy Mass Jesus reminds us all to look deep within our hearts….Is our belief in God true?….How do we know?…..Are we Catholic in “name only”?……Here is the litmus test…..Do we love God above all things?…And do we love our neighbor as our self?………….Jesus once again is very blunt………”He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.”….There is a deep misconception in the American Christian world that we all “somehow” just float into heaven when we die……Today in the Gospel, Jesus addresses this misconception head on…How we live and how we treat our fellow human beings matters!…..Also - Are we as Catholics just “checking boxes”?…What do I mean by that?…Do we do all the right things, yet, our hearts are far from God?…….Many times its in the small actions of each day that demonstrate where our hearts really are…How we treat the woman who cleans our home?….How we treat the bus driver who made us late for work because he was not on time?…..How we treat our children?…How we treat our spouse?…..Do we forgive others when they “cross us”?…..Its in these “small matters” that we demonstrate just how much we love our Lord…..St Paul once again breaks it down the best…….”If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.”……..We all must be aware that it is very easy to “get lost in the weeds”….As we “go through the motions” of practicing our Catholic faith - Have we lost sight of what and why we are Catholic in the first place?….This and more is what Jesus places before us today to ponder…….If we get the “little things" right - The “big things” will follow

“Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him”; lest my foes rejoice at my downfall”

Over the years of working with the Missionaries of Charity I have met a few people who actually knew Mother Teresa…My friend Gene from the New York City was one of them…Gene told me that when Mother Teresa spoke to you - You were the only person in the room….He said you could tell this by the way she looked at you and gave her undivided attention….Let’s step back and think about this……Mother Teresa was a very significant person during her life on the world’s stage…She ran a global organization…Kings, Presidents and dignitaries of all kinds wanted to speak with her each and every day….Let’s put it this way - She was very busy!….Yet, she had time to speak with and give her undivided attention to the least among us - And mean every bit of it - She was the real deal!…..That says something - How did she do that?….The answer - God’s Grace - And that grace is available to us as well!......Mother Teresa saw God in everyone, no matter who you were…Whether you were the President of the United States or you were the person who cleaned the bathroom…..You were important to her - You can’t “fake that” - Its all about God’s grace……You see, Mother Teresa was not just “ticking boxes”….This is why Jesus today in the Gospel challenges us….He asks us point blank - “Do I know you?”…….During the height of COVID my father passed away from his battle with Parkinson's Disease…….When it came time for the funeral, an old friend of mine from work, who lived more than an hour away heard about my father’s death on social media….Jack drove more than an hour to pay his respects to me and my father…When I saw Jack walk into the funeral home, I was blown away at his gesture…Why?…..And I will be very honest - I would not have driven all that way for him - But Jack did that for me….And here is the “kicker” - Jack is not even Catholic - Jack was Jewish - I am Catholic and wear my “Catholic faith on my sleeve” - Yet, I also know I would not have gone out of my way for him the way he did for me…..To be very honest, that is why I was blown away by Jack’s “small” gesture and will never forget it…Why bring this story up?…..Because its in the “little things” that we encounter Jesus…Its in the “small gestures” that we prove our love for the Lord….Sometimes it boils down to how we treat each other, when “no one is looking”…..But guess who is looking? - Jesus Christ…..If we do these “little things” right, count on NEVER hearing these words from God when we stand before him……”I do not know where you are from”

“Though I trusted in your mercy, Let my heart rejoice in your salvation; let me sing of the LORD, “He has been good to me”

Today at Mass, we are warned to never take our salvation for granted….What we do each and every day matters…How we treat others matters…..Now, that does not mean we “earn heaven”….But what it does mean is - If we say we love God, then we have to demonstrate our love by the way we live and the evidence of our love will be found in our daily choices - Most especially in the “small choices”……Actions speak louder then words……But how can we ensure our actions reflect a sincere belief in God?…..By allowing the Holy Spirt to animate our life…..Without God’s Grace - We will surely “get lost in the weeds”….This is why we must live a Sacramental life….And when we fall - We must confess our sins - No matter how many times we fall…...This is why we pray daily…..This is why we are nourished by the Blessed Sacrament at Mass….This is why we fast weekly….....Bottom line - We must give God “permission” to enter into your soul….By doing those practices consistently, we will be animated by the Holy Spirit…And then we will “see” the person who stands directly in front of us - Whether that person is the CEO of a company or that person is homeless on the street - No matter - They are a child of God and that is all that matters…It all comes down to how we “see” the world and how we “see” the world will guide all our daily choices…………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

After 2000 years of “data” - The “metrics” are clear - So don’t be deceived - More importantly - Don’t deceive yourself

In the entire bible, for me personally, one of the most important lines that has guided my Catholic faith for much of my adult life is this……”I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”……If we have eyes to see in the Catholic world, you will note that every Cardinal, every Bishop, every priest, every religious order, every lay Catholic in the pew, every program, and every apostolate that “adheres to the vine” bears fruit and those who don’t - Well - They don’t…..Jesus tells us something here we should ALWAYS pay attention to….”So by their fruits you will know them”…..This is how we “tell” who is “legit” as we say in New Jersey and who is not…..Those who have ears - Let them hear…..Why bring this up?…Because in the first reading today at Mass from St Paul…We are reminded of what I just noted........……”Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”…..What is St Paul telling us? - Allow me to “break it down”…No matter who you are….....No matter how smart……No matter how gifted…..You did not “figure it out” in a better way they God did - Get that through your head!….And if you are not “grafted” into the Church, which was founded upon Jesus Christ, whatever you do, even if it is mildly successful for a time - It will not last…….The term used in Catholic circles for what I am attempting to explain here is "Apostolic”, which means it comes down directly from Christ himself and is passed on…..St Paul today reminds us of this - As does this reflection…And why do we need reminders? - Just look around - How are we doing?……Please allow me to repeat it….”I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”…….Once again - How can you tell those who give “lip service” to those words I just noted and those who take this statement to heart?…….”So by their fruits you will know them” - Those who have ears - Let them hear!

“Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles”

Do we pay attention to the words of Jesus?…I mean to we really take Christ at his word?……Jesus was very clear about addressing “lukewarm” Catholicism…..I think we all have seen it…And sadly this is why many leave the Church….”Lukewarm” Catholicism does not bear fruit…..And “doubling down” on this model will not change that reality…..However, Catholicism that “adheres to vine”, that simply passes on and does not try to mask or alter what Jesus himself taught bears fruit…How do I know this to be reality?…Look at parishes across America that “adhere to the vine”…They are packed!…Look at religious orders that “adhere to the vine” - They get tons of vocations….Look at bishops that “adhere to the vine” - Their seminaries are packed….To ignore this reality - Because it is reality, is simply foolish…..And ignoring reality does not change reality!…….This is why Jesus tells us - “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it”……Why does Jesus tells us this? - Because a child trusts his Father implicitly - Do we?…….Bottom line - No matter who you are - You did not or will not “figure out” a better way forward than God himself - Nor can you create a better Church then God already did….Again, how do I know this to be true?……”So by their fruits you will know them”….This should be so obvious to us - But sadly its not to so many both inside and outside the walls of the Church……Those who have eyes to see - Let them see!

Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.

Today in the first reading from Mass, St Paul tells us that Jesus is the “capstone” of the one Church he founded…This is why the Catholic Church is referred to as the “Barque of Peter”…And we need to “stay in the boat”!…..That means living and practicing the faith as the Church teaches it….Its not about doing things “my way”…Its all about doing things God’s way!….Why is that important? - Because if we do not do it God’s way - We will not bear fruit that will last - Write that one down and put it in your pocket!…….St Paul once again instructs us…”Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect”……After 2000 years of “data” - The “metrics” are clear - So don’t be deceived - More importantly - Don’t deceive yourself…………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Release Barabbas!

Today at Holy Mass Jesus in the Gospel of St Luke cured a woman who has suffered for 18 years…Let’s just stop right there for a moment - Suffering for 18 years is no joke - Under any circumstance….Yet - The leaders of the people because Jesus cured her and the people recognized what he did - They had a problem with Jesus…What does that tell you?….The powerful could care less about the people, even when a woman was suffering for 18 years…”Not my problem”….They care about their power - Sound familiar?…..Absolute power corrupts absolutely - We have all heard that said before…...Mankind without God is lost….Our human nature must be tempered by Divine Grace and when its not we see the exact same thing play out in the gospel written 2000 years ago play out today in real time….Man does not know who he is without God and as a result, when God is ignored, the powerful abuse the weak - They excuse their behavior - Rationalize it through self delusions that they are “doing good” - The question is - Good for who? - The answer - Themself and “their tribe”…..History time and time again tells us this - But we chose to ignore history….The question is - Why?….The answer - Mankind still believes God takes and does not give….That God is some kind of ogre……That in order to be “free”, we must ignore God….The story plays out century after century and in the mean time, people suffer endlessly….And will continue to suffer…..This Gospel story today at Mass harkens my memory back to when Pontius Pilate gave “the crowd” an opportunity to free Christ…The crowd however preferred to free a criminal by the name of Barabbas………”But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.”………Mankind refuses to bend its knee to God…And instead we create our “own god" - Who is a criminal and a murderer.......Mick Jagger of the famous rock band, the Rolling Stones describes it best……”I watched with glee while your kings and queens fought for ten decades for the gods they made……Let me please introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste………Pleased to meet you hope you guess my name?”……Once again - Look around - Sound familiar?

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him”

What will wake up our wounded world? - The answer - Saints…..Only through the example of the saints, will people “see” a glimpse of God and be inspired to change…..This is why ”hard times” usually breeds saints……Catholics need to stop “siting on their hands” and start kneeing more in prayer…..Stop “voting harder” for politicians that can not solve our problems and start fasting more……People believe what they see and if we as Catholics, who possess the Truth in its fullness…Who have all seven Sacraments…Who have Our Lady…Do not strive to live holy and blameless lives - Shame on us!……Catholics have been endowed with the most and we have a tendency to squander it….Once again…Shame on us……Are you just like everyone else?…..Can people tell you are Catholic just by looking at how you and your family live?…..This is the problem and this must change!……God’s way works but if people do not “see it” - They will not pursue it…..That falls on us!…..Catholics must lead the way - So stop “siting around” - Its time to get serious

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"

Today St Luke tells us about how the powerful ignore the suffering of the weak….Yet at the same time, these powerful men tell themself they are “doing good” - And many people believe them!……The human mind can be convinced of almost anything…..How do we “see” through the fog of lies and corruption that has plagued mankind since the very beginning of time?……The answer - In two words - Jesus Christ!…..Many will agree with me upon reading this reflection but their is a “catch” - Remember - I am from New Jersey - There is always a “catch”…And the “catch” is - We must completely bend our knee to God…..I can hear it now - “Crickets” - I just "lost" many people who are reading this reflection…...But again - I am from New Jersey - So I will tell it to you straight….Until Catholics get real serious and pursue a holy life cooperating with God fully and the Church he created - Bending our will until that will of ours breaks! - And living sacrificial lives grounded in prayer and Sacramental Grace - Expect the same non-sense…….Do we really know the difference between Barabbas and Jesus Christ? - We say we do - So if we do - Why is “the crowd” still shouting - Release Barabbas!…….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

We are who we are in the eyes of God alone - Humility is Truth - And that my friends is the Truth

Today at Holy Mass we hear Jesus in St Luke Gospel give us some prospective…..Two very different individuals are presented to us…One who is a “mess”…The other who is “perfect”…Interestingly enough - Jesus is very critical of the person who believes himself to be “perfect”…And the guy who is a “mess” is praised…What makes Jesus come to this conclusion?…..The guy who is a “mess” - Knows he is a “mess”….And humbly asks God to forgive him…..There is the key - He asks God for mercy!…..Knowing we are a sinner - And asking to be forgiven - BOOM!….To think any other way is simply delusional….People like to compare themselves to others who “do not have their act together” - The world does this to make themselves feel better - But really there is only one comparison that matters…Comparing ourself to God - And in that comparison we all fall way short….This is why no one can boast….And the person who understands this will always be humble….Why?…..Because they know who they truly are and because of that - They depend on God’s mercy and grace completely……That is reality….Because the only opinion that matters is God’s opinion….Our world today thirsts for self approval and affirmation….People look for “clicks” and “likes” on social media….All this is simply a distraction from the only “click” that matters - What does God think?….Live for an audience of one - The only audience that matters is God…..Know who you are…..Endure the applause and the criticisms equally……Because in the end…..We stand before the Lord as beggars, with nothing in our hands….Everything depends on the mercy of God…Know who you are!…..Have mercy on me Lord a sinner!

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of salvation”

We can not understand what it means to be humble until we feel it…Humility must be lived…You will never understand what it means to be humble by reading a book…..God understands human nature….This is why through his permissive will God allows us to endure trials and sometimes fall…..While we as human beings reject those moments of life, in actuality, these “hard times” are gifts...…They “keep us real”…They “ground us” in reality….Why? - Again, human nature being what it is - Forgets God constantly….We start to “think” that all the good that comes from us had nothing to do with grace…..We forget the giver of the gifts and focus on the gifts themselves…..God understands this…So he throws us a “curve ball” now and then….Why?….To keep us humble - To keep us grounded….Again, these moments are gifts but do we look at them that way?…..God is always preparing us for himself - The sanctification process does not end until we take our last breath….And only God knows what we need to become sanctified…..In my lifetime one of my “go to voices” was Fr Benedict Groeschel…For those who do not know who Fr Benedict was…He founded a religious order of Franciscans in the Bronx (New York City)…Fr Benedict was a tough talking priest from Jersey City…Who was both practical and saintly…..During his life, many looked to Fr Benedict and as a result his fame spread globally…..However, towards the end of his life he made some controversial statements about the priestly abuse crisis…Fr Benedict was a trained psychologist with a PhD from Columbia University and as a psychologist he analyzed the sexual abuse crisis of priests stating that some of the blame must be viewed from the prospective of the teenage male victims, who solicited sexual relationships….This statement was very politically incorrect and because of that the Catholic world, still wounded and reeling from the blowback from the damage caused by the crisis turned on Fr Benedict…At this point he was an old man…..Fr Benedict did not do anything wrong - He just spoke honestly through the lens of a trained psychologist…But that did not matter - His television show was removed from EWTN…And for a short period of time - Fr Benedict was made to feel like an outcast…Why would God do this to him you may ask after all the good he had done?…..While this was going on, I thought to myself - God is preparing Fr Benedict for his death…He is giving him a “gift” - And humbling him - Preparing him to stand before the Lord as one should…As a simple humble beggar…..God works in mysterious ways…..He is the “master builder”…..A friend of mine who is a very holy nun once told me….”Joe - Everything in life comes from the hand of God - It is for us to accept everything from God’s hands knowing he is forming us into the people we need to be”…..And sometimes we need a “little help” in that process……Do we view the world through this lens?…..Do we understand what it means to be humble?….Many Catholics believe that before Jesus returns there will be what is widely known in Catholic circles as the “Illumination of Conscience" and when this event takes place, all of humanity will see themselves as we truly are…As God sees us….Our eyes will be “wide open”…..And as a result many will repent and turn to the Lord……Do we live our life from the prospective of “an audience of one”?…….Humility is Truth and we will never know who we truly are until we see ourselves through the eyes of God alone and when we do - One word comes to mind - Mercy - And those who ask for mercy will be given it.

“The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens.”

Today at mass, St Luke in the Gospel tells us a story about how people perceive themself…One man thought he was “so great” and the other not so great…..What was St Luke trying to teach us? - That we all “fall short”…That we all require God’s mercy……That humility is Truth……..And in order to live with humility, we have to sometimes be humbled….Mother Teresa put it best…..”If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are”…….We are who we are in the eyes of God alone - Humility is Truth - And that my friends is the Truth……………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Don’t sell yourself short - Don’t let time run out - Because it does and it will........Don't let that happen

Today Jesus in the Gospel of St Luke teaches his friends about the patience and mercy of God the Father…How quick we are to “write people off”…..To think this person or that person is hopeless…With Christ all things are possible and even the darkest person can one day “see” and bear fruit…But here is the “catch”…This all begins with repentance…Acknowledging where we went wrong….Before we can truly allow the Holy Spirit to enter into us…We first must repent…………….So how did Jesus instruct his friends today in the Gospel about the need to repent? - Let’s take a look….“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”………….There is tremendous power found in the words - “I am sorry”……In order for our life to “bear fruit that will last", we must be animated by the Holy Spirit….And what do you think gets in the way of the happening? - The answer - Our sin!…..One Sacramental Confession transforms our soul back to its original state…Did you just hear what I just said! - I hope you did……..Once we “open the flood gates”….Grace pours into our soul…This is how the fig tree as explained by Christ in the Gospel “bears fruit”…That fig tree is you and me….And God is patient with us…But eventually, time does run out……Don’t let that happen and don’t sell your self short……God knows who you are at your core and because of that knowledge, he knows what you are capable of - All the good you can do - But without him - That is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN - At least to the degree that it can……Transformation begins with an authentic encounter with Jesus - That encounter can happen today, believe it or not…And this encounter begins with these words - Some of the most beautiful words ever spoken….”Bless me Father, for I have sinned”

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion that he may live”

Once a man has children of his own, his life gains a great deal of prospective….You understand what your parents went through and you also see in your own children the “finished product” of their life well before they do…But in the mean time - You have to endure all of the non-sense they put you through…And when it came to my own life and for those who know me that are reading this reflection…There was TONS OF NONSENSE….But my own father endured me…He played the “long game”…And because of his good example and I am sure his prayers and his infinite amounts of patience…I became the man I am today…But that took time!…Allow me to give you a small example of my own father’s patience with me…..I was 19 years old and in college…I was completely out of control, living the life of a character in the movie Animal House….To be very honest, the movie Animal House was tame compared to the actual way me and my housemates lived at the University of Scranton (a Catholic College no less)…Anyway back to my story…..My roommate Jude and I were going to the Jet football game on a Sunday and my father said he would drive us back to college after the game…I told my Dad the game started at 1:00pm, so he would have plenty of time to drive us and get back home and get ready for work Monday…Of course I was wrong, the game was at 4:00pm, which meant we would get back to college around 10:00pm…The drive back to Scranton, Pennsylvania from my home would take about two hours and then my Dad would have to drive home to New Jersey…And go to work the next day at his barber shop and stand on his feet for 10 hours…..So when I told him I made a mistake, that the game was not in the afternoon but at 4:00pm…He was not happy about it, but said…”Don’t worry - I will drive you and Jude back to school - Enjoy the game”…So off we went……So I drove my father’s car to the Jet game…And Jude and I got completely wasted! - Drunk out of our mind!…..And after the game - I drove my father’s car back home - Drunk out of my mind!……That in and of itself is bad - But it gets worst…..Now its around 8:00pm…My father has to drive Jude and I all the way to Scranton……Then drive himself back to New Jersey…And then get up early for work Monday…So what do Jude and I do once we get into my Dad’s car?…We both “pass out” in the back seat - Adding insult to injury - Again, we are 19 years old, I just drove my father’s car drunk out of my mind…And now my father has to drive four plus hours with two out of control college kids, who thought they knew everything and were invincible…....Fast forward 35 + years.....Now that I am a father of five children of my own, three of them who are boys…If one of my sons pulled that with me…I think I would probably “strangle him!”…..Not my father…He simply “endured me” and all my bad behavior over all those years…..And in the end, his patience and prayer paid off….I have since embraced my Catholic faith, live Sacramentally, I am a father myself and married a good woman, who also is “fully on board” with the Church and inspires me by her example each and every day…All this happened and more…Because my father saw the “finished product” in me….His endless patience and prayers….And it all paid off….As I read the Gospel story today from Mass..I thought of my own father - Frank Reciniello - And this story I just told you……“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”…….There is hope for everyone…..Even me….Prayer and Patience obtains all things

“For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you”

Today Jesus at Mass tells us a story about just how patient God the Father is…..But with that being said…We must take advantage of the opportunities given to us…God’s patience does run out and so does time!….We all must come to terms with our past…And our sins….But even that is made easy…One simple Sacramental Confession…And we are good as new!….And then we are given grace to bear fruit…Fruit that will last….We need this grace, all of us, so don’t fool yourself!……For those who have ears - Let them hear………..…”Bless me Father for I have sinned” - Those few words have more power contained in them then an atomic bomb - BOOM…………Don’t sell yourself short - Don’t let time run out - Because it does and it will........Don't let that happen………JMJ

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No need to "reinvent the wheel"…The wheel works just fine

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading, St Paul tells us about his struggles with sin….As we all know…St Paul was a great saint…But that does not mean he was not human…The struggle with sin is very real….It exists in each and every human being…This is why we need Divine Grace…This is why we need to live a Sacramental life…Those who have ears - Let them hear!……But back to St Paul - What does he tell us today at Mass - ”Brothers and sisters: I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord”…….Sadly, when most people hear the word grace, they think its some made up crazy religious idea - Or - To some. grace is a natural gift that some people have and some do not......Nothing could be further from the truth - Grace cannot be self manufactured…Grace comes from God and is available to all of us - And it helps us to live as Christ asked us too......Without grace - Guess what? - “Its not going to happen” as we say in New Jersey!……This is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines grace….”Grace as "a participation in the life of God," a free and undeserved gift from God that allows individuals to become his children. It is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit that justifies and sanctifies a person, cleansing them from sin and enabling them to live in accordance with God's will”…..Notice the word “supernatural”?…..Grace elevates our human nature, which in turn enables us to live out our Catholic faith…I will say it again - Without God’s grace - THERE IS NO WAY!…We can live as Jesus asked us too - Not a chance!…..So what must we do to acquire this grace?…..Like a glass filled with water to the brim, if we want to pour milk into that glass, the water must be poured out…So it is with us - We must “pour out” our very self and “make room” for God’s grace in our life….In addition, we must also live Sacramentally - That is where the “supernatural part” comes into play …..While reading Scripture is important, don’t get me wrong, I read it every morning - It simply is not enough…..Knowing something to be right and doing it are two very different things…Its one thing to be instructed by Scripture, its another thing all together to live out what Holy Scripture tells us…This is where Sacramental grace comes in…..Those who have ears - Let them hear!

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom”

Sins of the flesh have plagued mankind for as long as men and women have walked the earth…Deep within each and every person is the desire to marry….Where a man and a woman become one flesh and have children….God made us this way…However, if this innate desire is not tempered by Divine Grace, we destroy others and ourselves…Don’t believe me? - Just look around and you will not have to look too far either…That is why marriage is a Sacrament - God made it that way…When marriage is lived Sacramentally, God infuses the couple with Divine Grace in order to live out the very real demands of the married state….To attempt to live as a married couple outside of the Sacrament puts a couple at a great disadvantage and divorce statistics support what I just noted….Are you aware that 55% of all marriages end in divorce in America…Now if a couple simply goes to Church together each Sunday - That number drops by 50% - Where you aware of that?…..Also, if a couple does not use contraception and utilizes Natural Family Planning (NFP) as the Catholic Church recommends….Those couples only have a 3% divorce rate - Did you know that as well?…These are not dogmatic statics by the way but sociological data collected in the United States currently…And these FACTS should tell you something - If you have ears to listen….Bottom Line - Grace is real - And each of us needs it!…No matter what state in life you have been called too…Whether a Bishop, a Priest, a married couple or living in the single state….When the Blessed Sacrament is received worthily, as the Church prescribes after we frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation - We are animated with the very life of God…..And in turn we receive a “supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit” - Once again…Those who have ears - Let them hear

“Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust”

Today St Paul in the first reading from Mass tells us just how human he is….But notice how the reading ends….”Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord”…St Paul understood his human weakness and in doing so, he placed his trust in the Lord…And as we all know - St Paul’s life demonstrated both in word and deed that the Lord did not let him down - Nor will the Lord let us down - Believe it!….The beautiful thing about being Catholic is, its all written down….All we have to do is follow the “blue print”…..There is 2000 years of “data” - Lived out in real time by countless saints……The “blue print” works - The rest is up to us…..No need to "reinvent the wheel"….....The wheel works just fine……………JMJ

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All this and more can be yours - If only we get out of your own way!

Today at Holy Mass Jesus says something in the Gospel of St Luke that immediately caught my eye…….”Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!”…….Do you somehow think this “fire” that Jesus speaks about does not live in YOU! - Because it does!….At our Baptism, we were grafted into the life of Christ and given the first installment of the Holy Spirit….When we were Confirmed, given a new name, through the hands of a Catholic Bishop, the final installment of the Holy Spirit was given to us…..Now here is the question - What are you doing with it!!!….If we only knew the power that is within each and everyone one of us!…..We need to get out of the way of our very self!…..How do we unleash this power?…..First and foremost - Go and give your confession to a Catholic Priest….And open your heart - Hold nothing back…..Some who just read this reflection are now turned off - How sad!…..Whenever we humble ourself before the Lord - The very life of Christ FLOODS into our soul like a tidal wave…Second, what do we do?…Receive the Blessed Sacrament because now you are in the state of grace……The POWER that is contained in these two actions is greater than an atomic bomb!…..What do we do next?….Pray the Rosary every day at the feet of our Lady, who will instruct us in the ways of her son…..BOOM!!!!……Any human being that commits to these actions regularly will set the world on fire!….Why?….Because Jesus Christ himself will animate them…The life of GOD will flood into their very soul……Do you comprehend what I am telling you?…It does not matter if you are rich, educated, poor…Whatever you are!….If we allow God to be God and we allow him to enter our soul on his terms - Not our own terms - And get out of the way! - You will become a force of nature……..Don’t believe me?…..Ok - Think about this reality - How did 12 uneducated smelly fishermen bring forth the Gospel message to every corner of the earth - And these same smelly fishermen are talked about to this day 2000 years later?….HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!?…Here is another example.....This is what Pope Innocent III said in the 13th century about St Francis - A reformed spoiled brat and party boy………”Give me 12 men like St. Francis and I will change the world”….This same POWER that was in St Francis and the original 12 disciples is within each of us…..It’s time to “get out of our own way”…….Burn the Boats! - Burn the Bridges!…..No more “half measure” - Its All or Nothing!……Go forth and set the world on fire!

“He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers”

Over the years that I have worked with Missionaires of Charity, I never cease to be amazed at the women whom God called to follow the radical way of life that Mother Teresa laid out…One of those nuns was Sister Paula Marie MC, an American nun who was a Regional Superior in Kolkata India….When I first met her, I said to myself how did this American, of Italian-American descent from Philadelphia get here?……Sister Paul Maria was intelligent, plain spoken, prayerful and practical…..But very American in her mannerisms, keeping in mind that the Missionaries of Charity are a third world religious order…So how did Sister Paula Marie not only become a nun but rise to become a Regional Superior in India?…..As I got to knew her over the years, I found out that Sister went to Penn State University and got married after college…Sadly, her marriage ended in divorce….So being raised a good Catholic and because her marriage was not lived Sacramentally, she looked into getting an annulment, which she obtained from the Church…So what did Paula Marie do next?…..She became a nun!…And not just any nun - A Missionary of Charity nun and the order sent her to India…..Clearly a radical move……The last time I saw Sister Paula Marie was on my second to last trip in Kolkata…She told me to come see her before I flew home to New York City….She told me she wanted to give the sisters in New York a gift…So right before I boarded the plane out of Kolkata, I went to see St Paula Marie in her convent….When I got there, she handed me 40 pounds of loose Indian tea, the best tea in the world, and told me to give it to the sisters in New York…..I looked at her and was like. “Sister, there is NO WAY their going to let me get this tea through customs”…..Following my comments - Sister looked at me with a sly smile and said, “Joe - You will figure it out” and walked away…That was the last time I saw her…..Needless to say….Somehow, by the grace of God, no customs agents questioned me about the 40 pounds of loose Indian tea - A small miracle in and of itself…..And I delivered it to the Bronx Convent once I got off the plane in JFK Airport on a cold December day in New York City……........Paula Marie, while a student at Penn State University, I bet "all the tea in India", never in a million years would have thought she was going to live a life as a nun - In India no less……But guess what? - God had “other plans”…..What about us? - What does God have planned for YOU?………Remember this before you answer that question - God calls the unqualified and qualifies them himself….All we have to do is say - YES…And get out of our own way!!!!

“I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him”

Today in the Gospel at Mass, Jesus shocks us once again……Is this the Jesus I thought I knew?…..”I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”……..There is nothing more radical then to live a life fully committed to Christ - To be a Catholic - To embrace everything taught to us….These are the real “movers and shakers” of the world….People like this “stop traffic”…..They defy logic…..They cause people to question their very existence….All this and more........Because one man - A simple Carpenter in a remote corner of the world 2000 years ago, who was God incarnate, radically spoke the Truth and walked among us…..All this and more can be yours - If only we get out of your own way!…………..JMJ

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And what a day that will be! - Carry on!

Today the Universal Church offers an Optional Memorial at the Mass to commentate St John Paul II….One can argue that of all the souls that were born into the world in the 20th century…This man had the most profound impact….To give some color around that statement….The former President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev accredited Pope John Paul II for the collapse of the Soviet Union…No small accomplishment and no small compliment from a political adversary no less…..Pope John Paul II was a man gifted beyond all telling…..Brilliant, an athlete, a fantastic communicator…The list of his gifts goes on and on….But what formed this man?…How did he become the man who the world came to know?….By the age of 22, Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) was orphaned…Both his parents died and his brother who was a medical doctor also died…He watched his country Poland get destroyed right in front of his eyes, first by the Germans and then by the Russians….He was also shot in 1981, just three years after being elected Pope…..Like all saints - Such men are not “born saints”…They are made saints….Karol Wojtyla cooperated with God - And God, who is the “master builder”, crafted a man who in turn shook the foundations of the world…Today in the Gospel of St Luke we are told something by Jesus, something I believe Karol Wojtyla took to heart…The question is - Do we?…..”Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more”…The very fact that most of us were born into the developed world is in of itself a blessing but sadly taken for granted by many reading this reflection….The large majority of the world’s population lives and dies in poverty……Not to mention that most of the people reading this reflection were born Catholic, which means we have the benefit of living a Sacramental life……Now think about this for a moment - When we die, we will stand in front of God along side millions upon millions of people from all over the world who were not given a fraction of what we were given….Allow me to put it this way…If you were God - And looked out upon the sea of humanity at the time of The Last Judgment, most of the people standing before you had nothing….And then you looked to the Catholics, born into comfortable lives in America, Canada, Australia and Europe…How do you think you would respond?…..Would you expect those who had been given the most, would have in turn done the most?…..Seems like a reasonable question right? - Guess what? - We are told today in the Gospel by Jesus that God sees it the same way you would - Let's be honest…..”Much will be required of the person entrusted with much”........So let’s get out there and make it happen!

“Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come”

When I would travel to Kolkata, India to serve with Mother Teresa's sisters, I would spend my afternoons working at the first center Mother Teresa founded in the city - The Home for the Dying and the Destitute….Many of the men in that home were found in the gutters and railway stations of the city half died…And thankfully, as a result of the care from the sisters, many of the men got healthy, not all of them died…..A few, as a result of the love shown to them would in turn volunteer their time after they got healthy and some even work for the sisters….Not only were these men I just mentioned physically healed but a spiritual awakening happened to them while living in the home…One such man I got to know over the years…When new patients would come into the Home for the Dying from the street, this Indian man would give them a shower and shave their head with a straight razor…I know this because I would help him on occasion….Watching him use a straight razor was a sight to behold! - But back to the story…This man was just like the very people who were carried into the home at one time - Now healthy - He was giving back….How do you think God will view the actions of this poor man?…..I do not even think he was Catholic!…Now - How do you think God will view someone like me?…..A person given an education, loving parents, a safe pace to live, money in my pocket and a Catholic faith…How do you think God could potentially judge a person like me?…….We are told the answer in the gospel today…..…”That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly”…….Don’t think for a minute I am not aware of the GREAT responsibility laid upon me! - The question I pose today to the reader of this reflection is - Are you?

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth”

Once again, Jesus tells us something very important in the Gospel today at Mass - Do we take him seriously? - If not, we should!…..God has given each of us gifts…Some more than others, but each of us has something….What are we doing with those gifts?….Do we use them to serve others?…Or….Do we use them simply to serve our self…This is what St Luke in this Gospel today is calling us to ponder…And why must we think about these questions?…Because God will ask us the same questions when we stand before him……”What did you do with what I gave you Joe!!!!!!”……Like a banker, God not only wants what he gave us back - He wants “interest” on what was “loaned out”…..Viewing our lives through this lens, brings great meaning to life…..We are given a purpose!…….What drives you each day?…..As I stated in the beginning of this reflection, when discussing the life of Karol Wojtyla, the man who became Pope John Paul II and later a canonized saint….Saints are not born saints…They are formed….Forged in the fires of life…What makes them saints is, they allow God into their life radically and the Holy Spirit fills them - And as a result, they are transformed - The rest is history!….Whether we are given tremendous nature gifts as Pope John Paul II was…Or…We were given a small amount of gifts, like the Indian man who worked for the sisters at the Home for the Dying in Kolkata….The goal is the same…We must use what we have been given for the Greater Glory of God….And when we do that - We will one day hear these words……..”Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy”…..And what a day that will be! - Carry on!………..JMJ

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So be prepared……Remember thou art mortal

Today at Holy Mass we are reminder in the Gospel of St Luke that Jesus will return again…Whether we are alive for his second coming or we die and stand before God today…The fact remains - He is coming!….In the text presented to us today, a question is implied for us to consider - Are we ready to stand before the Lord?…..”Jesus said to his disciples: "Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants”…….Human beings have a way to “put off” uncomfortable realities…..”Get that our of your mind!”…..This is done as a self-defense mechanism - We all do this sadly…….To avoid the “800 pound gorilla” in the room - That we all must change - That we do not die on our terms - That we are judged on God’s terms and not our own….This is reality! - And this is something each of us MUST deal with….To “put off” thinking about our own death is not a wise way to live one's life…..Catholic Tradition over the centuries has a phrase for what I am trying to communicate to the reader in this reflection…..”Memento mori” is a Latin phrase meaning "remember that you must die”……All of us, Catholic and non-Catholics alike should never forget that the gift of time given to us is limited…What we do with that time is completely up to us….Jesus in the Gospel today at Mass is telling his friends to be prepared!…..He is also telling us the same thing…Death comes like a thief in the night - That is so so true….Do we have our “spiritual bags” packed and are we ready?

“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man”

When I was 33 years old, one of my college roommates died of a heart attack…At the time, Ron was only 33 years old as well…Such an event should not happen - But it did! - And all of us who loved Ron were shocked!…I remember the day like it was yesterday…A college buddy called me at work to tell me Ron had passed…Ron went to see the Yankees play in the World Series…He came home to his apartment after the game…Had a slice of pizza at his kitchen table…Went into the bathroom and had a massive heart attack…His roommate found him died on the floor…..My buddy Andrew called to tell me - And I did not believe him - Straight up! - Why? - Because I could not allow myself to believe him!…So I called the family business where Ron worked with his Dad - When I asked for Ron Jr on the phone - An awkward silence fell over the conversation….The silence was broken by the words - “Ron had a heart attack last night and died”…I was in shock!……Fast forward…I am now 55 years old…..In the last 5 years four of my good friends have also died…Three of cancer and another one of a massive heart attack…..Why bring all this up - None of these deaths should have happened - But they did!…None of these guys - All “good guys” by the way, ever thought they would die young when they were in their twenties - But guess what? - They did die young and two died completely unexpectedly…..The story of my college roommate Ron should make us think long and hard about our own mortality….Are we ready to give an account of our life to God?…..Are we at peace with the events of our life and if not what are we doing to reconcile those events not only with ourself and those around us but with God himself…The old Catholic saying rings true to this very day…….”Memento mori” - “Remember that you must die”….When that day comes - And it will - Make sure you are ready!

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not; then said I, "Behold I come."

St Luke’s Gospel today at Mass is not just a reminder but a warning - Each of us will die and some of us will die in a manner that was not accepted or planned - That is reality - So let that sink in deep!…So the question is - Are we “blocking out” this reality from our mind?…If we are, frankly, we are simply foolish!…..The “party ends” and for some it ends a lot earlier then others…….While this thought should concern us, if we are at peace with ourselves and with the Lord, we have nothing to fear….God is merciful and his mercy is endless…We however have to ask for that mercy - Don’t take the mercy of God for granted - That is a huge and costly mistake….When we are at peace with God - We can face any trial that comes our way - Even our own death…..One Sacramental Confession gets us to “that place”….Always have your “spiritual bags” packed - What we are told from the time of our youth is really true - Death comes to us all……So be prepared……Remember thou art mortal………JMJ

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