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

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