“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come”

Today begins our Advent journey…Advent is like a “Mini-Lent”…Its a time to prepare our hearts for the “reason for the season” - The birth of Jesus Christ….A child was was born in “plain sight” to the world - But the world “missed it”….Today Jesus walks amongst us just as he did 2000 years ago - Do we see him?

"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths."

We are told at Holy Mass today in the Book of Romans…...............”Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.”……....How are you going to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child this Advent, who is the Light of the world?…..Will you fast? - Go to daily Mass? - Pray the Rosary daily? - Go to Eucharistic Adoration?……How will you prepare your heart for the child?…..The world waits….But to appreciate his coming properly - To be able to look past all the materialism of the season, we must look deep within our self…Have you considered going to Confession with a Priest? - How long has it been?…..This is how we prepare - This is how we make Christmas truly special…….In the Gospel today we are told by St Matthew about the time when Noah was preparing for the flood….."As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man”….How did Noah know the flood was coming?….Why did he go to great lengths to prepare?…..Just as Noah knew - So do we - We are told point blank that Jesus will come again - Are we ready! - If not - Get ready!

"All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths."

Advent is a special time for me…Before I was married, I would spend this time in Kolkata, India…So many wonderful memories…Every year at the beginning of Advent, I would board a plane for 18 hours….Feeling “clean” and “fresh”….Comfortable in my “modern” lifestyle….Working at the time at Morgan Stanley, one of the world's largest Investment Banks….I was in good shape…I ate well…I was very healthy…..And THEN………. I would board the plane and land in Kolkata…The moment I got off the plane - There was a smell to the air…The air has a smell in Kolkata that I can not describe in words…But the moment I landed and smelled it - I knew I was in for “an adventure”….....God had something for me to experience…And each time I went to India for Advent - I was never disappointed - God would change me as a result of the experience: Through the Missionaries of Charity, seeing with my own two eyes their radical sacrifice…Through the street people we served…..Through the volunteers I met from all over the world…..Through the city itself - Kolkata is called by the locals - The City of Joy - And yes, those who know the city understand why it is called by this name……Each Advent a journey would begin for me…Now that I am married with five young children, I no longer go to India for Advent - But a journey begins none-the-less….My wife and I both prepare ourselves for the Christ Child through fasting….Fasting is a good way to sharpen your prayer and when you “go without”, you cling to God all the more…And when you fast, when Christmas Day comes, you enjoy the day so much more! - I invite you to participate in this practice…..Advent is a special time if we make it special…Its so easy to get “caught up” in all the materialism and "noise" of Christmas in America - This was another thing I would always notice when I traveled to India…I would leave JFK airport in New York City and Christmas was in "full gear" - The lights, all the advertisements and “the bling” of a Secular Christmas we all know too well here in America…I would go from that, only to arrive in India, and stark poverty would be like a cold bucket of water dumped over my head….This sharp contrast would bring to my mind Joseph and Mary, how they journeyed together in poverty to Bethlehem, their struggle almost became my struggle in a small way as I lived in a third-world city for three weeks…Eating simply, living in a humble flat and many times getting sick from the air pollution…All these things allowed me to cling to Christ!!!! - To prepare my heart - To share in the “struggle” of the Nativity in a very small way..............So how will you prepare for this journey that starts today?……Make it count!…..As with all journeys, we begin with a “first step”….Take that “step” today!……And enjoy the ride……And prepare the way for Christ!

“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come”………JMJ

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

Mankind usually learns from his mistakes - And that is not a bad thing - As long as we learn

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke how Jesus instructs his friends to pay attention to the signs of the times…..If we are students of history and we look at history in a sober and objective manner….Trends emerge….Human beings really have not changed too much…..And sadly, because of this reality…The same mistakes are repeated….Because of this, one can foresee how certain behaviors produce specific outcomes both historically speaking and personally as well.....…."Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near”…......While no one knows when Christ will return….There are however indicators based upon historical trends of behavior that can give a person some insight as to where a society is heading…..All one has to do is read the pages of the Old Testament…The same patterns repeat themselves over and over again……We are told very clearly in the pages of Scripture to build “our house” upon a solid foundation…..And when we build “our house” upon “sand” - The result is never good…..What is that solid foundation? - And what do you currently see as far as the outcomes of societal choices made today?….Are they good?….Maybe it’s time to explore another way?…..Again, look to periods of history to give you an indication as to what works and what does not work…….If you do this objectively, it should be very clear as to the right path forward for America and the world……If again, you are objective - That is the key….Jesus goes on today in the Gospel…...........”Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away…….Jesus Christ said very clear that he is the Truth - The Truth is an immoveable object…..While we can ignore it, it does not go away and when the Truth is ignored, there are consequences…..What “works” for societies to thrive should be crystal clear to us all…..That is not the problem - The problem is - We delude ourselves - Double and triple down on failed ideologies and ways of life, only to produce the same horrible outcomes…….Again, the Truth does not change - Maybe that means we should consider changing? - No one will force you too - However, denying what stares you in the face does not change the outcomes of historically proven bad choices. - History has 20/20 vision.

“One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him”

Over the years of working with Mother Teresa’s sisters I have seen men who led very bad lives and have made horrible life choices change…They found themselves infected with AIDS…Went to jail……Lost family…..Lost friends….the list goes on….What does it take to make the human mind realize that “my way” does not work?……Many of these men I am speaking about who lived in the AIDS Hospice founded by Mother Teresa in New York City, after experiencing God’s love through the sisters and “coming to the end of themselves” requested to be Baptized - I have seen this with my own two eyes…So the question is - How about us?……What will it take for us to change? - Have we “had enough” yet?………Do we think God is an ogre?….That the Church he founded is there to “make you miserable”?……For those who are objective and are not “wed” to tribal politics or ideologies that are grounded outside of the Triune God…..It should be very clear “things” currently are not working out for America - Right!…..So why don’t we explore an alternative? - What will it take?!!!?…….When I was twenty-two years old…..After fully embracing a secular lifestyle / mindset that the world seemed to "think" was the greatest, most glamorous life possible - Promising us all nothing but success and “happiness” - After taking a big bite out of that "rotten apple” - I had enough!…..I did a 365 degree turn…….I fully embraced my Catholic faith…..And that was the BEST decision of my life….Because of that decision…I have no debt…..I have a good job….I have no destructive vices in my life…..I have money in the bank….I have a faithful wife and strong marriage…I have five beautiful children…..All because I made that one decision - Still not convinced?……….The “world’s idea” of “good” is not good - Sorry! - And how can I say that with such certainty? - Look around - How is it working out?…..You tell a tree by the fruit it bears!……..As I stand before you today - I will swear up and down - And tell you the straight up and down the Truth with a capital “T” - God’s way works!…The rest is up to you - The choice is yours to make…..And If I can do it - So can you!

“His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed”

Today at Mass Jesus tells his friends…”Read the signs of the times”…..What we see should be very clear - But why is it not clear to some?…..Is it because we are rendered blind?…..Due to hardness of heart and our pride….Life does not get better until we “face the facts”…..To be very honest - What Jesus is telling us today in the Gospel is simply common sense - Again, can we see it?!?……We are told in the pages of Scripture - “If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit”…....Before we are to understand what it means to serve others, most especially serve in public office, one must understand what it means personally to serve God - Historically speaking, all governments that are grounded outside of God ALWAYS devolve into tyranny and chaos…..If the reader of this reflection fundamentally disagrees with this statement - I guess you “have not had enough” - So buckle up - There is an old saying in politics - “The people get the leaders they deserve - And they get them good and hard!”……Mankind usually learns from his mistakes - And that is not a bad thing - As long as we learn……………JMJ

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

So give thanks ahead of time - Full of confidence and hope

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading about how Daniel was saved from the lion’s den…..Evil men plotted for Daniel to be killed…But against all odds, he was saved by the hand of God and as the story progressed, the ones who plotted to kill Daniel, they in turn were punished…..”At his order Daniel was removed from the den, unhurt because he trusted in his God. The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and their wives, to be cast into the lions’ den”…….Daniel put his trust in the Lord, he radically trusted him…So the question today to ponder is - Do we trust him? - I mean really trust him?……To live by Divine Providence is difficult from the prospective of “the modern man”…..I can hear it now - ”What we need does not fall from the sky” - That is for certain!….We must work like everything is up to us and at the same time trust that God will provide….Again - Easier said then done…..To learn to trust in this manner in the Lord takes time…..However - Grace builds upon grace and so does trust….And with each struggle and obstacle that is overcome, one slowly begins to trust more and more that the Lord will provide….Why? - Because he does - He loves us and will never let us down!

“He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, and he delivered Daniel from the lions’ power”

We all need reminders…..Being a father of five children, my wife and I have trusted in the Lord our entire marriage and he has never let us down….But sometimes we worry…....We doubt….This is human and because of our shared humanity, he need to be reminded of God’s providence….For me, that comes when I visit Mother Teresa’s sisters…A few days ago, I spent the day with them in New York City….....They continue to form and teach me and for that I am forever grateful…..The Missionaries of Charity are all over the world…They feed, cloth and care for literally millions of people each year…..Now for the part you may not know…They do not solicit money - Did you hear that!…..All their donations are unsolicited…Think about that for a second….Think about how much money it takes to feed millions of people each year…....Never mind how much money it takes to provide for thousands of nuns who serve the poor in every corner of the world…....And they do not make anything, sell anything nor do they solicit a dime…I am telling you the truth…All their donations are unsolicited!…..This should teach us all something….When we do things God’s way - And we “do our part” - Guess what? - God will do his part and provide - Bet the farm on that!……My recent visit to the sisters was, as always, fruitful for me spiritually….They are an example for the entire Catholic world in my humble opinion - They are “the best of us”….As everyday Catholics in the pews around the world…As husbands, wives, fathers and mothers - Who have real concerns…Who are raising children in a world gone mad!….We must learn to trust the Lord….God will not always give us what we want - But God will ALWAYS give us what we need…..Our "modern" mindset needs to change and that happens only through God’s grace - God will provide…Just maybe not the way we “think” he will - But he will provide!

“Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand”

The story of Daniel read to us at Mass today reminds us that God is a father…And as we all know, a good father provides for his children…..We must learn to trust God even more then we trust ourself…..God’s plan for our lives is infinitely better than our plan - Let me stop right there - Do you believe that?……I mean really believe that!……As Catholics, everything asked of us by the Catholic Church is possible - Again, let me stop right there - Do you believe that?…..The problem is, we do not trust - We trust ourselves more then God - A huge mistake…..Jesus invited St Peter to “get out of the boat” - He invites us too - To do the exact same thing! - We need to “get out of the boat” and venture into “the deep”…..Most of us do not do this - We want to be "comfortable" - Living a life that we tell ourself is in our control……This is not the life that Jesus invites us to live as Catholics…………We must venture into the deep - Knowing that God will provide....So give thanks ahead of time - Full of confidence and hope..........JMJ

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

There will always be a cost associated with being a disciple of Jesus Christ - Pay it…And rejoice

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus tells his friends something we all know too well…The world hates the Truth and because it hates the Truth, it will hate those who speak it as well as live by it….The world and God are at odds - Always have and always will be…..To think otherwise is a delusion…….Jesus pushed the boundaries of society…To put it in terms we can all understand - He “called out the world” - And the world was “not having it” - Why? - Because the world was not interested in changing……Nothing has changed from the time of Christ to this very day……”Jesus said to the crowd: "They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives”……Notice in the warning Jesus gave to his friends - When the enemies of God are confronted with the Truth - They have no defense against it….”I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute” - Why is that?….Because the Truth is an “immovable object” - Its recognized by everyone even when it is rejected - Why? - Because it is written upon every human heart…So why does humanity reject something that is grafted into human DNA? - Why? - Because there is a deep cost that goes along with embracing the Truth - And the world is not willing to “pay the price”…..As Catholics we must we willing to “pay that price”……I have heard people say - Beware of celebrity priests…Why would someone say that?….Because a holy priest more times then not is despised by the world - Why is that? - Because "that kind of priest” encourages people to change - He "calls it like it is" as we say in New Jersey…..Such a priest does not “go along to get along”….And because of that - Many people will hate “that kind of priest”…..”Father So-and-So is so rigid” - I have heard it before……Jesus was nailed to a cross - Remember that!…..To embrace the Truth means you too will have enemies - That comes with the territory…But also remember this - Enemies can be “won over”…..Catholics should not be afraid to have enemies…We should look at this reality as an opportunity…..To win them over

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

To be Catholic in the public square is not easy…Never has and never will be…..But this is what we must be - A witness….When people know you to be “that kind of Catholic” - They watch you very carefully - Looking for you to “mess up” - Let them look and allow God to “work” - That is my feel about that!…….......I go to daily Mass at my job…I work as a Compliance Officer for a European Investment Bank in New York City…Recently it was lunch time and I was headed to Mass when my managing director’s boss, an Ivy League educated attorney was in the elevator with me….She asked me where I was going to lunch…I told her I was headed to Mass…She then asked - “You don’t eat lunch”….....I told her no…I could tell my response made her very uncomfortable….Nothing happened to me as a result of that conversation at work but since that conversation, I can feel this woman’s eyes on me every lunch hour from her office when I get up to go to Mass…..Now - One can look at this encounter with this lawyer I had as a good thing - Maybe it made her “think” about “things” - Bringing God into the forefront of her mind…But such an encounter does “label” me…..It clearly made me viewed as a kind of “odd-ball” in her eyes….Are we willing to be the “odd-man out” because of our faith at work or in our community?….Are we willing to allow our Catholic faith to impact our career?….Do we refuse to take part in certain activities at work that compromise our faith?……As Catholics we must fully digest that we “can not have our cake and eat it too” in this world….That goes for lay-people in the pews and that also goes for Priests and Bishops…..Currently we are free to practice our Catholic faith in America - BUT - There is a subtle implication in the “polite world” of money and power about Catholics….You go to daily Mass?….You have many children?…..You are not for same sex marriage?…You do not support abortion?…I guess you are “that kind of Catholic! - Hmmmmmm?!?…..Again, currently the law and the First Amendment in America protects our Catholic faith - But what happens when it does not?….How will you respond?…Don’t answer! - Rely on God’s grace…Build a solid foundation in your life through daily prayer, fasting and Sacramental living…..Do not trust yourself - But trust in God…Then when the moment comes - If it comes - You will be ready!

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

Today at Mass Jesus warns us - Do you take his warning seriously?….If you don’t - well - You should!…..The world has not changed too much since the time of Christ…..It will never be “politically correct” to fully embrace our Catholic faith in the public square - Face it!……If you are “that kind of Catholic” - There will be many people who hate you…..Our response however should be different then theirs to us….Allow me to explain - Its hard to hate a “good guy”….What do I mean by that?…..When the world hates you because you embrace the Truth - And you do not respond in kind - This opens a door - Maybe not to a promotion at work - But maybe a future conversation…..Maybe the way you comport yourself will make people “think” long and hard about themself - This is how hearts and minds change….But to be this witness, we must be willing to pay the price…….There will always be a cost associated with being a disciple of Jesus Christ - Pay it…And rejoice…….JMJ

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

Utilize the gifts given to you……And “ignore the noise”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of Luke a question is asked of Jesus about the end of time……."Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky”…….God’s ways are not our ways…..And only God knows when the “final whistle will blow”…....In the mean time - Are we ready to stand before the Son of Man?…..As I tell my five children all the time when they fight with each other....…”You worry about you”….....What do I mean by that?...…We can not control other people…We can only control our self…...Jesus is the son of God and Jesus founded one church - The Catholic Church….....In that Church we will find everything we need….Ground your life in First Principals - And disregard “all the noise”…...What do I mean by noise?…..Anything that does do come from the pages of Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church is NOISE - Educate yourself in the faith……The Deposit of Faith is not ours - It belongs to God himself…Our job as Catholics is simply to “pass it on”…..Jesus tells us today to expect “noise” - So do not be troubled by it or surprised when you see and hear “the noise”…..As my father would always say to me - “Joe - Straight Ahead”….Ground your life in First Principals…….Rosary every day - Sacramental Confession once a month - Mass every week……As I tell my children - “You worry about you”……and let God be God…..As we say in New Jersey - "He's got this"

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

We are reminded in Scripture that Jesus is in control…Even when we think the world is on the brink of collapse…..”He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”………How easy we forget this event told to us in the pages of Scripture……It is very human to want to be comfortable - “I get it”…….But when we are too comfortable, most times we do not grow…..I recently read a book about a number of Catholic saints who at one time in their life lived as great sinners…The book was titled Turning Points - Each of us in many ways have a “Turning Point” moment in life………But before that moment comes, we will experience “storms”…....There is a purpose for those storms…Remember, everything is willed by God - What does that mean?…If God did not allow it to happen - It would not happen….Everything we see in this world…Even the worst of evil people and saddest of tragedies….All will work towards a greater good in the end….God gives man free will and man as we know “screws it up” - But God “plays the long game”……We just need to learn to trust God…How do we do that?…Well - Like everything else, trust begins with small things and builds upon itself….I remember my wedding day….Thinking about how my wife and I would be able to afford a big family…....Both of us were open to life, which means we do not and have never used contraception…How are we going to do it I thought? - You see how the devil works? - Fear does not come from God - Never forget that!……Well, 12 years later - Five children later…..and in the process sadly we lost three children to miscarriages…and here we are - We did it!….And who knows, maybe another child is to come in the future - maybe / maybe not - Not up to me!….All the “storms” of life come and go….As my Father would also tell me when I was a boy - “Joe - this too will pass”…But in the process, God uses these “storms” to teach us…To form us…To sanctify us…To make us a holy people.

“Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life”

Our Lord today in the Gospel at Mass tells his friends - “Don’t worry about all the craziness you see around you”…..He is telling us today the same thing…..Do not put your faith in this world or in men for that matter…Trust in the things that can never change - The things which are eternal….....God is real - Do you believe that?….God created one Church - That is a historical fact!….And everything we need is in that Church - The Catholic Church…..Utilize the gifts given to you……And “ignore the noise”…….………….JMJ

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

Jesus was not “playing around” - And neither should we - That is - If we are serious

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke Jesus tells a story about sacrifice…..Love is about sacrifice….We have lost the meaning of the word today - Sacrifice…..However, when sacrificial love is witnessed…Heads turn and hearts change…This is the love of Jesus Christ - This is what it means to be Catholic….To give all - EVERYTHING - Now that I made you uncomfortable - Buckle up! - I am just getting started……..The example of a single Mom taking care of a handicapped child in a garden apartment……Working class parents giving their children a world class education at a deep personal cost………A family having many children and bearing the sacrifices that go along with it…….Fostering children, who come from violent or drug addicted backgrounds……This is the kind of witness that cannot be ignored…These choices scream of Jesus Christ - No words necessary……….”When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood”……….If we are serious about who we say we are…We have to live it!…And to live it means we love sacrificially……Whether a single person, a married couple, a priest or bishop - No matter…..This is how the faith spreads and grows - The only way…..A sacrificial life transcends culture, languages, and economic class - It speaks a universal language…..This was the message from the Cross and this is the message Catholics must communicate with our very lives….This is how we impact the world - Not by “fancy words”….But by sacrificial love…Love that costs us

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

India is a country with many layers to it…Some of the richest people in the world live in India, also some of the poorest people human eyes have ever seem….One year when I was in Kolkata, Mother Teresa’s sisters asked some of the men who were volunteering if we could help take some severely handicapped children to the Science Museum in the city…This museum in Kolkata was for the the upper classes - There was no way the poor could afford it or would even go - It simply was “not for them”…So when about 50 of us showed up carrying handicapped children from the slums of the city….”All eyes” were on us…..I can remember the look on the faces of the people on the line of the museum to this very day…..”Stunned” is a word that comes to mind…..Men from Europe, America, Canada, Australia, a bunch of Catholic nuns and all carrying handicapped poor children…Over the years of working with Mother Teresa’s sisters, I have seen that look again and again in San Francisco, Haiti and in New York…..STUNNED……People staring wide eyed at what the sisters do….Working against all odds with next to nothing - Walking the halls of dangerous housing projects, living in the slums of the third world, going where no one goes and doing what no one does!…..This is a witness that can not be ignored by even the hardest of hearts in our world today…..Either such a person who does this is totally crazy or they know something that most of us do not know……The question we as Catholics have to ask ourselves is this - Are we serious about our faith?…..Because if we are - We too will do what is hard!…We too will make deep sacrifices…..Why is that? - Because we take Jesus at his word….Is heaven our true home? - If we say YES to that question - Prove it!….And we prove it, as we say in New Jersey, by “putting our money where our mouth is”…..I state all this because this is how we teach the world about who Jesus Christ real is - By living sacrifically - This is also how we teach the world about what love really is all about……The rest of it, is just “fancy words”…..Actions speak - So speak with your life

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

Today we are told a story in the Gospel at Mass about a woman who gave her all - She gave her very self - Why?…..Well, it’s simple - She understood who God really is…She understood what love looks like and is all about….And she had the courage and faith to live her belief out loud - With her life - No words necessary….The bottom line is this - If we say we are Catholic and our life is not lived out sacrificially…No one will believe us!….Let that sink in deep - Whether you are single, married, a priest or a bishop……We can say all the “right things” and say them perfectly for that matter - Still not a soul will believe us in the secular world!…….This is the driving problem in America…Most of us have really never seen what the Catholic faith looks like…..We live in such a “comfortable world”…I too came from this same “comfortable world” - I am a by-product of it as well - So I “get it”….But when the Catholic faith is lived radically - And when “that kind of Church” is witnessed - A Church which embraces sacrificial love - A love that costs!…..This is the witness that changes hearts and turns heads - Why? - Because it screams of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love from the cross for sinners…. Again - Are we “serious” about what we say we believe as Catholics? - Living sacrificially is not for the faint of heart….But let’s be honest - Jesus was not “playing around” - And neither should we - That is - If we are serious……..JMJ

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

We are citizens of heaven and Christ is our King - Make sure your “passport” is stamped appropriately

Today the Universal Church commemorates at Holy Mass the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe…….When one hears the word “king” certain images come to mind….Jesus clearly is the King - Yet, his Kingdom is not of this world - Are you ok with that?…To put a finer point on it - The world hated him because of the person he was…..The Kingdom of Christ was never about “the world” - Again, are you ok with that?….Scripture tells us all this very clearly - Because that is the way it is….“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you”…....We as Baptized Catholics must reconcile this reality with our choices…We can not have it both ways……And if we choose to follow the way of the Crucified King our life will be “different”…..Catholics are to be a people set apart….A light to the nations…….Today in the Gospel Jesus is nailed to “this throne” - A tool of torture - The Cross….And next to him, one on each side, were criminals…….One man mocks Jesus - He made his choice - His “kingdom” was a kingdom of “brick and mortar”…..The other criminal saw passed the blood and the gore…He saw passed a man beat down and defeated by the powers of the state….And because of what he saw - He too made a choice…………."Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal”….Life is all about choices and our choices guide our actions…We either see passed the things of this world and look to God or we do not…….Jesus tells us point blank….“My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”……Do we hear the voice of Christ? - I bet we do - And if we do? - Do we listen and more importantly do we respond?….Who is your King and what Kingdom do you belong too?

“For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven”

Choices - We all make them……….We all have heard this saying - “You can not have your cake and eat it too”…..To be a Catholic means we walk the narrow road that leads to heaven…….Just as Jesus once stated…….“My kingdom does not belong to this world”……Is this how we view life?…….My wife and I were asked to speak to young couples about to get married…I began my presentation with….”What is the goal of your marriage”?…….And sadly I did not get the answer I was looking for…….The primary goal of every Catholic marriage is to make sure your spouse gets to heaven…My job is to make sure my wife gets to heaven…My wife’s job is to make sure I get to heaven…..NOTHING is even a close second to that mandate……Why do you think I did not get the answer I was looking for from these young couples?….Maybe because they think “they can have their cake and eat it too”……That you can be "of the world" and still be a "citizen of heaven"…..That my friends is not the way it works……When we choose resolutely to "pick up our cross", which is to do the will of God, our lives will look very different from the secular world…Such a choice is not made in a haphazard manner…..This choice must be made resolutely!….Married life is in many ways an act of the will…I choose to do “what is hard” for my wife - Why? - Because I love her…..And because I love my wife - I choose what is best for her - And what is best for her is God......My family’s kingdom does not belong to this world….We are citizens of heaven! - I choose it firmly - So be it, come what may!

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!”

Today at Mass the Universal Church publicly acknowledges Jesus Christ as King - How about us? - Who is our King?…….The Kingdom of Christ, in the here and now is not always going to be a “bed of roses”…In fact, to live in Jesus’ Kingdom can be difficult….Hence we are told……“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”.....…So why would anyone want such a King or to live in such a Kingdom…..Why?……Because the peace of Christ surpasses all understanding…..To live as a authentic disciple of Jesus, our life most probably will not be “flashy or fancy” - However, it does come with as we say in New Jersey - “Perks”…………. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you” - Those are Jesus words……But we must remember - We can not have our cake and eat it too……However - There are “perks” to being in the Kingdom of God, and while these “perks” may not look like anything the world values - Make no mistake - These “perks” are very real…..”All that glitters is not gold”…….The Kingdom of God is at hand - Don’t be fooled - Don’t get distracted - And don’t believe the hype!……We are citizens of heaven and Christ is our King - Make sure your “passport” is stamped appropriately…………JMJ

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

The secret is - God is found in a whisper - That is the secret - Its really that simple

Today at Holy Mass some of the religious leaders ask Jesus a question in a round about way about heaven - What will it be like?….Jesus gives an answer….."The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive”……The idea of heaven has been described by many - But I believe “the many” have created a misunderstanding of what it is exactly…Heaven is simply perfect union with God…..Being of one mind - one spirit & one heart……Heaven will not be a “party” as some secular minded people many think…..God is love in the here and now but because we are all sinners and flawed, we can not fully perceive God as He is…..Only Our Lady could - But that is a reflection for another day….With that said, the closer we get to God, the more we understand what heaven will be like……When we sit before the Blessed Sacrament, there is a tangible peace felt…Again, because “we are who we are” - We cannot fully appreciate what and who God is in those moments sitting before the Eucharist…However, sitting before the Blessed Sacrament gives us a “glimpse” into what heaven will be like….Perfect and lasting joy - Deep peace - And a burning love, which is fully comprehend and deeply felt…And that reality will never end - This is heaven

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel”

What is the secret to life?…Philosophers have asked this question for as long as mankind has walked the earth…..Being I am from New Jersey and Italian, I am going to “throw my hat in the ring” and answer that question for you? - So buckle up!…….The secret to life is finding God….All people are clearly different but in many ways we are all the same…We all come from the “same place” and that “place” is God….Our longing for the infinite is woven into human DNA…..Before we come to understand this, man chases after “things” trying to fill this deep longing for the infinite - From the Investment Banker on Wall Street to the street cleaner in New Delhi…And for those of us who have “been around”…We know that while our achievements - No matter how large, “Experiences” - No matter how great, "Things" we have acquire - No matter how lavish…All that “stuff” after time grows old and what we find is - That deep longing for “something” is still there….Until we realize the “secret” to life - That we were made by and for a loving God - That longing will never go away until we “figure this out” - That my friends is the “secret”…….And when we “figure this out” - The goal then is to grow closer and closer to God each day…We do that by dying to ourself, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us….Whether you are single, married or called to be a priest…The goal is the same - To die to yourself……This is how God fills you and believe it or not - Those who live this way are the happiest people on earth - Why? - Because they not only “figured out” the “secret to life”, they committed to pursuing it radically……Of all the vocations mankind is called too, I believe the highest vocation of all are contemplative nuns and monks….What is a contemplative?….These are people who pray before the Blessed Sacrament for most of the day….To the secular mind, one may think this is crazy…How boring - Right?!?……How wrong you are to think this way…..The contemplatives of the world have purified their hearts to such a degree that they “see” God in a way that the rest of us do not….They also feel God deep within themselves in a way we do not either…This my friends is a foretaste of heaven…Heaven is not “a party”…Heaven is perfect union with God…That is the secret!

“For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish”

Today at Mass we hear how the people of Jesus’ day ask the same question many of us ask - What will happen when we die?…..And Jesus answers them……Our world today for as advanced as it is, looks for God in all the wrong places…..When I walk the streets of New York City, I see so many different kinds of people, but all of them share the same need - They are looking for “something” - They just don’t know what it is……..God is not the mystery we make him out to be and in many ways we complicate things……This is why Jesus tells us in Scripture…..”Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me”…Our world today desperately tries to acquire sophistication when all that is needed is childlike simplicity to find what we are all looking for…….The secret is - God is found in a whisper - That is the secret - Its really that simple………….JMJ

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

The good should never be the enemy of the perfect! - Go to Mass

Today the Universal Church commentates the Presentation of the Virgin Mary to the temple…..Mary was special…We all know that….She had to be…Why? - Because she bore in her womb the Savior of the world…And because Jesus was flawless…Mary was given a special grace…She was spared from the mark of original sin…Again - Why? - Because something perfect could not come from something that is flawed - That is why Mary was conceived immaculately….And today the Church commentates the day her parents presented her to God as all good Jewish families did……Just as Mary was the first “tabernacle” where Christ was formed for nine months…We too were given a place to encounter the Lord in flesh and blood….Jesus did not write a book - He formed a Church…And while the Institutional Church, which has existed for 2000 years is comprised of men…Some saints and some sinners - The Catholic Church has a unique mission in the world…It is the “vehicle” by which we receive the Sacraments - Our world today disregards the efficacy of the grace contained in living a Sacramental life…..This my friends is a huge mistake…Unlike Our Lady - Each of us - Is flawed….We sin - Let’s face it!….And because of our “condition”, we needed a “vehicle” by which to remedy what plagues us all……Today in the Gospel Jesus, sees how some people were taking advantage of his people……They were using religion as a means to leverage power over others….Jesus had something to say about that….........……….”Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.”…….......Some people will read this and justify why they do not go to Mass and are not practicing Catholics…..If you are “that guy” - I ask you to consider this….Like everything else in life, every human institution is composed of “saints and sinners”…..Never let anyone keep you away from the Sacraments!….There are very good priests and bishops in the Catholic Church - In fact, the good FAR out number the bad....Jesus gave us the Sacraments for a reason - Why? - Because we all need them!…..Don’t let anyone “cheat” you out of your birth right!

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

Where I work in New York City there is a Church where I go to daily Mass near my office…As providence would have it, that Church is probably one of the most lets call it “progressive” Catholic Churches in New York City….I say this because if this Church was not so close to my office, I would never go to Mass there…Why?…Let’s just say, a few of the homilies and one of the confessions I attended there were “less than” orthodox …And I am being kind…..Why am I telling you this - To complain? - No!…I am telling you this because while many of the priests at this Church are not my “cup of tea”, I still go to Mass there…I also go to Confession there twice a month….Why?….Because I do not go to Mass because of the homilies or the Priests - I go to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - I go to have me sins forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation…I will NEVER allow anyone to cheat me out of that grace promised to me by Jesus himself!…..I have also learned something by going to this particular parish…That is why I stated earlier that divine providence bought me to this Church……While I am what many people would call today an “Orthodox Catholic”…....I have come to see that priests that are not so orthodox can very well be sincere in their approach to the faith…....And while they still are not “my cup of tea”…..God loves them and therefore so must I love them….And these priests are a “work in progress” - Just as I am a “work in progress”….St Paul tells us in Scripture……”Bear one another’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deluding himself. Each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not with regard to someone else; for each will bear his own load.”……There was a time in my life when I would have heard one of the many homilies I have heard at this Church I go to in New York City and I would have had as we say in New Jersey “a fit”….Ranting and raving about how "the priest is so off”….....I now have taken a different approach…Every Wednesday, my wife and I fast for the Catholic Church….And that practice as brought me many graces - It also has brought me peace - “Jesus will take care of it!”….…In addition, because of my Wednesday fast - I no longer “throw a fit” every time a hear a “liberal priest” say Mass…..Now instead, I entrust that priest to the grace and mercy of God…..And as for me, while I do expect the liturgy to be presented to the faithful in the pews a certain way…and there clearly is a correct way to pray the Mass…..If things are not done well….I trust in the grace of the Sacrament…And no one is going to cheat me out of that grace!

“You have dominion over all, In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”

Today the universal Church honors Mary our Mother…..Jesus gave us his Mother from the cross…He also gave us a Church, which in many ways is our mother too…….There is a saying in Catholic circles……The Church and her teachings are perfect - Its “the people” in the church who are not perfect…How true that is!…Maybe that is why Jesus gave us a Church in the first place - You think? - To give us a place where we are fed by his Body and Blood and when we fall due to our human weakness, we have a place to go to wash our sins away Sacramentally…..If you are looking for a Church that is perfect, you are always going to be greatly disappointed…All people are flawed - Everyone - That includes priests and bishops…However, Jesus the son of God - He is perfect….And He gave us a Church - He also gave us his Mother…..Why? - Because we need them……Pope Francis would always say - “The Catholic Church is not a museum for saints, it’s a hospital for sinners”…….Don’t expect to find perfect people in the pews of the Cathlic Church or for that matter a perfect man standing in front of the altar saying Mass…..That is not why we go to Mass - We go to Mass to receive Jesus Sacramentally - To stand at the foot of the Cross on Calvary and witness the greatest act of love ever to be given to the world!…..So don’t “throw the baby out with the bath water”……The good should never be the enemy of the perfect! - Go to Mass………….JMJ

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

"Christ changed every human being he ever met….. When you touch Him, you touch lightning”

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading from the Book of Maccabees, we hear the saga continue of the people who remain faithful to God…How they fought against all odds against the raw power of the state…..Sound familiar?……… “The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices. Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart. Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kin. Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends, and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts.” But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers and consents to the king’s orders, yet I and my sons and my kin will keep to the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree.”…………..Catholics are called to be in the world but not of it…That means we are to live amongst the masses…Not separate ourselves like the Amish or Mennonites….However, just like the Amish and Mennonite communities in America, who live very differently from the rest of society….We Catholics are to do the same - We are not to be like everyone else…That is the problem, are like “everyone else”!……Catholics are to be a “light on a hill” for their neighbor not live just like they do…..Far too many Catholics use contraception in their marriages, get divorced, lend money at high interest rates, ignore the poor, do not fast, do not pray daily - Some don't even go to Mass on Sunday........To list a few of the ways we are like everyone else…….Our lives are lived for the most part exactly like our pagan neighbors…Instead of being the example for the world - We are apart of the world…This needs to change…But how?….We must encounter Christ - This is the only argument that will “change our mind”…..There is a certain “shock” when one encounters the living God….The great philosopher and professor at Boston College Peter Kreeft in his book "Jesus Shock" put it this way…."Christ changed every human being he ever met. In fact, He changed history, splitting it open like a coconut and inserting eternity into the split between B.C. and A.D." and "If anyone claims to have met Him without being changed, he has not met Him at all. When you touch Him, you touch lightning”…….I like this description of what Kreeft calls “Jesus shock”….”When you touch Him, you touch lightning”….And when we have an authentic encounter with Jesus, we too are transformed into a version of that “lightening”…..Catholics are to live as a people “set apart” and not to be like everyone else….That is how the “lightening” strikes home!

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Have you ever been shocked by witnessing holiness in action?…….I have……My first trip to Kolkata to serve with Mother Teresa’s sisters was one of those moments for me…I will share a shocking encounter I had with you now on that trip….My first day in the city I was on the public bus sitting next to an America young woman from Georgia….Sarah had been in the city for many months, she and I were on our way to the first home that Mother Teresa founded…The home took care of people found on the street who were about to die…...As I sat on the bus that day headed to that home, I was very nervous…I did not know what I was going to see….Just as we were about to walk into the home.....…Sarah saw a street woman she knew…The woman was very old and was so filthy words can not do justice to describe to the reader of this reflection just how dirty she was….Her one breast was exposed, her cloths looked like they were on her body for weeks on end, her hair was matted…I could go on and on…When Sarah saw her, a big smile came across her face and she hugged this woman like she was her own mother…….Sarah was not faking it at all either, she meant every bit of that huge…When I saw this, I literally almost fell over!…That is an example of what Dr Peter Kreeft calls “Jesus shock”…..Our world today has a very “lukewarm” understanding of who Jesus Christ was and is….Jesus Christ was a tornado!…..The greatest revolutionary to have ever walked the planet!…..And when we meet “this man” - We change - Such an encounter can not be ignored!…..Saints make other saints - How you say?…Because a holy life is attractive - Why? - Because God is attractive……..There is nothing “fake” about it.

“As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes”

Today at Mass we heard in the first reading how a family would not “go along to get along” in a society that was radically opposed to their religion - How about us?…Are we willing to “stand apart”?….And if we are - How do we do it?…The answer to that question is, you can not be “different” from the crowd unless you allow God’s grace to transform you, to strengthen your will, to fortify your resolve…Only by means of Sacramental grace, daily prayer and fasting can that happen….Catholics must be a people who live among “the people”….....We must be salt and light to the world around us - Now for the “catch” - I am from New Jersey - There is always a “catch” - That is not going to happen without God’s grace!….If we rely upon our own strength, we will get “swept away” by society and the culture - And live like everyone else….However, if we do as St Paul says…..”Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil”….We too will “shock” the world around us….A holy life can not be ignored - It changes hearts and minds….."Christ changed every human being he ever met….. When you touch Him, you touch lightning”…………..JMJ

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

Reality stares us in the face - Not choosing to look at it does not change it

Today at Mass we hear again a reading from the Book of Maccabees…Its a powerful commentary…It tells a story about a persecuted people who resist the wishes of an evil King……And the story focuses on one family who suffer greatly under the rule of this King…..A mother in the story watches her six sons get killed before her eyes and then speaks to her last living son, who is being tempted to “given in” to the wishes of this King and put aside his religion….This is what the mother had to say to her last living son….."I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which each of you is composed. Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man's beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law”………Our life does not belong to us…….Life was given to us and as this mother put it so well - that gift in many ways is a mystery….And when our life ends, we either believe that God will give us eternal life with him forever or we do not believe that…If we choose to not believe, we still are left with the mystery of how life began and even the greatest of minds in human history can not explain it fully……God gave us life and he expects something from us - each of us…He gave us life for a reason……Have we gotten distracted?……Notice the words of the mother in this story once again…….”in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law”……..The Book of Maccabees was written well before the birth of Jesus Christ but the message is the same as the message in the Gospel…….“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom”….Do we believe we can “have our cake and eat it too”?…..That we stroll into heaven on “our terms”?………Jesus “gets it”, he has the holes in his hands to prove it…..”Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it” - That is the ticket in "the door".

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord”

Years ago, I used to go to confession with a very holy Polish priest who served in my parish for a period of time….He said something to me that I thought was rather interesting…He said he believed that living the vocation as a Catholic man and woman in marriage is harder then the vocation of being a priest…I could tell when he said this to me, he meant it too…..Do we understand what is asked of us when we take our vows as Catholics when we get married?…..We are called to completely die to ourself…Marriage is not a 50 / 50 proposition - As if we are in a business…….Its the “vehicle” to bring life into this world and to give of our self until there is nothing left….Do we understand what love really is?….That love never takes but gives……And for those who are living this vocation, this is not an easy thing to do - This is why we need Sacramental grace…Our world today disagrees with me - Yet - As a result of this “disagreement”….Family life and marriages are falling apart in record numbers across America…..Is it because we have a false idea about what to expect in married life?……Have we bought the lie told to us on television and by Hollywood?…..In order to “die to our self” as we read in the pages of scripture today, we need God’s grace…Why? - Because to “give yourself away” frankly is not natural to the human condition…This is “missed” by our society but what is not missed is the outcome of ignoring this reality….Everything God asks of us is possible…But here is the “catch”…We can not do what God asks of us without his grace…..That is reality and again outcomes prove it to be reality……..”For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”…….A strong Catholic marriage embodies this statement….And when we give ourself away, we receive deep and lasting joy - A joy the world can never give or understand - This results in a happy marriage that lasts.....But this "kind of marriage" will not look like the "idea of marriage" told to us by Hollywood....“Don’t believe the hype” - The real deal is far better - Love is found in the total gift of self....And that is "no-hype".

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord”

We are reminded today at Mass about how life is a gift…But with that gift comes responsibility……To ignore reality does not change it…..Outcomes can be ignored but ignoring them does not change the outcomes….The secret to a good life is the exact opposite of what our culture is “selling”….We are all called to give ourself away….Each and everyone of us….This is the one and only path to heaven but it is also the way to live a happy and fulfilled life here on earth…As we say in New Jersey - “Don’t believe the hype” - And stoping buying the lie the culture keeps telling…..Reality stares us in the face - Not choosing to look at it does not change it…………..JMJ

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