Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, the leaders of Jesus day try to trick him…But Jesus beat them at their own game….Why? - Because the Truth cuts through all the nonsense…..You don’t have to be the “smartest person in the room” to speak the Truth - All you have to do is speak it….The Truth is like a lion - Let it loose - It will defend itself……….."By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them in reply, "I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet." So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." He himself said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”…………..What prevents us from speaking and living the Truth?…….A couple of things - For one, many don’t think its practical….Secondly, we are afraid…..To address the first point - To live your Catholic faith and embrace the fullness of Christ’s Truth is not only practical but its necessary if we want to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven but its also a formula for a good and thriving life here on earth…Yes, we all fall short, but that is why we go to Confession monthly with a Priest - To confess our sins and “try again” with the help of God’s grace…..And as far as being afraid….God’s grace will overshadow us and help us…..Grace is a powerful “tool” at our disposal - If only we avail ourselves to it……Jesus tells us point blank - “Without me you can do nothing”…..And if you think you are going to boldly live your Catholic faith in the public square without the help of Sacramental grace - I got some news for you - Its not going to happen…….Jesus today shows us that we should be confident to live and speak the truth but before that happens, we must be formed in our Catholic faith - This requires reading and asking questions and then doing more reading…..If we do not know what and why the Catholic Church professes to be the Truth - How can we live it?…This task primarily falls to families, but it also falls upon the Church itself….The Truth needs to be boldly spoken in our schools and from the pulpits at Mass…..We need to stop being concerned that “the people” will not accept it in the pews…..To think this way is not to think as Jesus Christ thought or lived for that matter…..God does not lower his standards - Its for mankind to aspire to live up to God’s standards - Not the other way around…And we do that through Sacramental grace.
“Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior”
One of the aspects of being human is the desire to belong…And sadly, this desire drives people to compromise their values and Catholic faith….As I say on my radio show…”We all want to be invited to the barbecue”…Maybe its time to not be so concerned with “the crowd”….To cut a new path forward - To lead the way!…I will speak personally…You just might be surprised at how people will respond…Some will turn away from you - So expect that…But others will not only be attentive to the Truth but will also be open to it…..Jesus tells us in Scripture…….”My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”………Many years ago in the back of my parish were I went to Mass with my family for years I saw a flier to hear Fr Benedict Groeschel CFR speak…I had heard about Fr Benedict…He was an Ivy League educated tough talking priest from Jersey City….He helped form a new religious order and once a month he gave a public lecture - So I decided to go…..When I heard him speak I was rather surprised because even though I was raised and educated Catholic, I really never heard someone so boldly speak Catholic Truth publicly....…Fr Benedict was “one of us”….....Plain talking and ‘tell it like it is”….And this approach really “rang true” with me…..And clearly I was not alone….The religious order, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal that Fr Benedict help start has grown from its humble beginnings in the Bronx to serving people all over the world…..This was a great lesson to me and it should be a great lesson for the entire Catholic world…..We need to “step out” of our comfort zones…We need to be bold!…..The Catholic Faith is the “best story” in town - We need to proclaim it without any filters……Why?…Because that formula works - Why else? - Because Jesus said so…..”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”…....There is no need to “re-create the wheel”…...All we have to do is - Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth & Be willing to suffer for the Truth….If we ”stick to that formula” we as Catholics will undoubtedly bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
“Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way”
Today at Mass we hear how the “power brokers” of Jesus' day disregard the Truth because of public opinion…...They are too concerned with retaining their position in life to fully embrace what Jesus was saying….....What a pity!….How about us?……Our world today is really no different…....Again, as I say time and time again on my radio show……”We all want to be invited to the barbecue”…....Maybe its time to not be so concerned with our “invitation to the summer barbecue” and embrace our Catholic faith fully…..If you do, my bet is you will be surprised…..Jesus did not form a global movement that has lasted 2000 years by happenstance…....The Truth is imprinted on every human heart….And when it is spoken and lived boldly, trust me, it resonates deeply both on the individual level as well as the societal level….....Its our job as Catholics to have the courage to simply “let the Truth loose”………Luke-warm Catholicism does not attract others nor does it bear fruit that lasts - The “real deal” however turns heads and leaves a deep mark……..Maybe it’s time to reach for the “top shelf”? - Its 100 proof and it’s the “Real McCoy”………………JMJ
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