Write what I said down and “keep it in your pocket”…...Why?…..Because that is the ONLY way we change the world

Today at Holy Mass we heard in the first reading from the Book of Nehemiah how a servant of a king looked sad…And the king asked why….”As I had never before been sad in his presence, the king asked me, "Why do you look sad? If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart." Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king: "May the king live forever! How could I not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been eaten out by fire?" The king asked me, "What is it, then, that you wish?" I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king: "If it please the king, and if your servant is deserving of your favor, send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves, to rebuild it”……Throughout the 2000 year history of Christendom, there have been men and women who have renewed the Church and in doing so they renewed the world….To name a few of these people…St Francis of Assisi…St Theresa of Avila……St Pope John Paul II…I mention that because only saints change the world…..Put that one in your “back pocket” and keep it!….So many people in our world today want to be activists…And sadly most of the “activism” we see…Even when it is sincere and performed with good intentions is simply noise and will never have a lasting impact…..Only saints change the world…Why?…..Because through their example, they give the world a glimpse of Christ himself….How do they do that?…Saints empty themselves of their very self and in doing so, they are filled with the Holy Spirit…..Trust me - When you encounter such a person - You will never forget the encounter or the person….For those who are sincere about changing the world…For those who aspire to be activists…..Maybe we should “re-think” how we go about being activists?…..Because before we impact others, we first must build a deep interior life…And from that interior life, all things will flow…..In a few days we will celebrate the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi….While praying before the Crucifix, a young St Francis heard a voice within his heart….”Rebuild my Church - For it lies in ruin”…..As I read the words from the first reading today at Mass…I thought of this turning point moment, which led St Francis to become the saint God called him to be…..How about us?….If we are really serious about changing things - Maybe we should start first with changing ourself….And from that starting point - We will slowly begin to change the world around us…..One small stone thrown into a pool creates many ripples.

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

Words will never inspire others the way actions can, will and do…..I say that because if we look at history and see how God raises up saints to meet the challenges of the times…We will see how, when people encountered these saints - Not only did they change but they strived to become holy themselves…Why?…Because when we stand in the presence of a holy person, we see a glimpse of heaven….This “window” into the divine inspires in a way words never can……………In 2007, the first year I went to Kolkata, India I was told Mass began at 6:00am at the Missionaries of Charity Convent (Mother House)….I arrived at the Mass early and found in a small chapel 200 nuns sitting down on the floor praying silently…..You could hear a pin drop….But in the silence you could feel very tangible the presence of God…..To be honest, those moments in that chapel in a good way almost haunt me to this day!…..And when the Mass would begin, the sound of the sisters singing was a sound like I never heard before in my life…Again, the sound of their voices, to this day, haunt me!….Have you ever looked in the eyes of a person who was holy?….Such a look strips you down - It exposes you, to who you really are at your core…..If you have ever been in the presence of such a person, a glance from them can shake you - Make you question your life in a way you may never have before….The eyes of holy person almost glow - A strange light emanates from them - And they look right through you!…..People like this and only people like this change the world….Not politicians…Not social media influencers……This is how we renew the world….And if we are serious about changing things…This is what we need to strive to become - A holy people…..Our world today does not need another politician…Or a speech…Or an NGO….Or a podcast…..It needs people who are seriously committed to the business of becoming holy……As Cardinal John Henry Newman who will soon be declared a Doctor of the Church said….”Shine through me, and be so in me…That every soul I come in contact with…..May feel Your presence in my soul…..Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!….Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine,….So to shine as to be a light to others;…The light, O Jesus will be all from You; none of it will be mine; It will be you, shining on others through me”……This is how we change the world - The only way.

"I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”……..And to another he said, "Follow me."

We heard today at Mass in the first reading from the Book of Nehemiah how a servant requests to help a King….He says he wants to “rebuild the city”……Don’t we all!…But how do we do it?…..Before we rebuild anything, we must reconcile ourselves with the Lord…This involves “bending our knee” fully…No small task…..To think we can do anything for God and not reconcile ourselves first to him is a fools errand….But if we do…If we give Jesus the only thing he really wants from us, which is our sins…And if we eat of His Body…He will transform us…Making us a living sign to the world…A sign of contradiction, which points to heaven….Write what I said down and “keep it in your pocket”…...Why?…..Because that is the ONLY way we change the world…..JMJ

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