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

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